Shloka 48
इयेष निर्गन्तुमथो वनाय त॑ वासुदेव: प्रणतो5भ्युवाच
iyeṣa nirgantum atho vanāya taṁ vāsudevaḥ praṇato 'bhyuvāca
Sañjaya said: When he resolved to depart for the forest, Vāsudeva—bowing in reverence—addressed him. The moment marks a moral turning-point: withdrawal and renunciation are met not with force, but with respectful counsel, showing that even in crisis one should be guided by humility and right speech rather than coercion.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A dharmic response to another’s decision—especially a decision toward withdrawal or renunciation—is to approach with humility and respectful speech. The verse highlights that moral guidance is best offered through reverence and dialogue, not domination.
Someone is about to leave for the forest (a gesture often associated with exile, retreat, or renunciation). At that moment Vāsudeva, after bowing, addresses him—signaling an important intervention or counsel at a critical juncture.