Shloka 34

Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna Saṃvāda in Indraprastha: Consolation, Legitimation, and Leave for Dvārakā (आश्वमेधिकपर्व, अध्याय १५)

Devanagari script

प्रयोजनं चापि निवासकारणे न विद्यते मे त्वदृते नृपात्मज । स्थिता हि पृथ्वी तव पार्थ शासने गुरो: सुवृत्तस्य युधिष्ठिरस्य च

Transliteration

prayojanaṃ cāpi nivāsakāraṇe na vidyate me tvadṛte nṛpātmaja | sthitā hi pṛthvī tava pārtha śāsane guroḥ suvṛttasya yudhiṣṭhirasya ca ||

Translation

Vāyu said: “O prince, apart from keeping you company, I have no other purpose for remaining here. O Pārtha, the whole earth stands firmly under your governance and under the rule of your virtuous elder, Yudhiṣṭhira.”

Word by Word

• {'prayojanam': 'purpose, motive, practical end', 'nivāsa-kāraṇe': 'in the matter/cause of dwelling or staying', 'na vidyate': 'does not exist, is not found', 'me': 'for me, to me', 'tvadṛte': 'without you, except you', 'nṛpa-ātmaja': 'king’s son, prince', 'sthitā': 'standing, established, settled', 'hi': 'indeed, surely', 'pṛthvī': 'the earth

• the realm/kingdom', 'tava': 'your', 'pārtha': 'son of Pṛthā

• Arjuna', 'śāsane': 'in the शासन, rule, governance, discipline', 'guroḥ': 'of the elder/teacher

• of the revered one', 'suvṛttasya': 'of good conduct, virtuous', 'yudhiṣṭhirasya': 'of Yudhiṣṭhira', 'ca': 'and'}

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Arjuna (Pārtha)
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Pṛthvī (the earth/kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate power is grounded in dharma: the earth is stable when ruled through righteous governance and deference to the virtuous elder (Yudhiṣṭhira). Even divine presence is portrayed as purposive—remaining only for companionship and support, not for domination.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses Arjuna, saying he has no reason to stay except to keep Arjuna company. He affirms that the realm is already firmly established under Arjuna’s governance and under the virtuous rule of his elder, Yudhiṣṭhira, indicating political stability after the conflict.