Shloka 43
Jarāsandha as Obstacle to the Rājasūya — Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Genealogical Brief
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 13
इन्द्रप्रस्थगतं पार्थमभ्यगच्छज्जनार्दन: । स गृहे पितृवद् भ्रात्रा धर्मराजेन पूजित: । भीमेन च ततो<पश्यत् स्वसारं प्रीतिमान् पितु:,भगवान् जनार्दन इन्द्रप्रस्थमें आकर राजा युधिष्ठिरसे मिले। फुफेरे भाई धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर तथा भीमसेनने अपने घरमें श्रीकृष्णका पिताकी भाँति पूजन किया। तत्पश्चात् श्रीकृष्ण अपनी बुआ कुन्तीसे प्रसन्नतापूर्वक मिले
indraprasthagataṃ pārtham abhyagacchaj janārdanaḥ | sa gṛhe pitṛvad bhrātrā dharmarājena pūjitaḥ | bhīmena ca tato 'paśyat svasāraṃ prītimān pituḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) went to Pārtha (Arjuna) in Indraprastha. In the royal house his cousin-brother Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) honored him with the reverence due to a father, and Bhīma also paid him homage. Thereafter the Blessed Lord Janārdana, filled with affection for his father’s sister, met his aunt Kuntī with gladness.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic conduct in relationships: a revered guest—especially an elder-like kinsman—is to be received with heartfelt honor (pitṛvat-pūjā). It also emphasizes affectionate duty toward family elders (meeting Kuntī as the father’s sister), showing that political alliances are ideally grounded in ethical kinship and respect.
Kṛṣṇa arrives at Indraprastha to meet Arjuna. In the Pāṇḍavas’ residence, Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma honor him with father-like reverence. After this reception, Kṛṣṇa happily meets his paternal aunt Kuntī.