Shloka 37

Devanagari script

अथाब्रवीन्महाराज वासुदेवो महायशा: । अस्माभिरमर्मड्नलार्थाय वस्तव्यं शिबिराद्‌ बहि:,महाराज! तदनन्तर महायशस्वी वसुदेवनन्दन श्रीकृष्ण-ने कहा--'आजकी रातमें हमलोगोंको अपने मंगलके लिये शिविरसे बाहर ही रहना चाहिये”

Transliteration

athābravīn mahārāja vāsudevo mahāyaśāḥ | asmābhir amarmaḍnalārthāya vastavyaṃ śibirād bahiḥ, mahārāja |

Translation

Then the illustrious Vāsudeva said, “O King, for our own safety and well-being, we should remain outside the camp tonight.”

Word by Word

अथthen

अब्रवीत्said/spoke

महाराजO great king

वासुदेवःVāsudeva (Krishna)

महायशाःof great fame

अस्माभिःby us / we (as agents)

अमर्मणःof the non-vital (part) / non-vulnerable

अनर्थायfor harm/misfortune

वस्तव्यम्must be stayed / should stay

शिबिरात्from the camp

बहिःoutside

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

Śibira (the camp)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid righteous warfare, dharma includes practical wisdom: one should take measured precautions to prevent avoidable harm. Kṛṣṇa’s guidance highlights that ethical leadership is not only bravery but also foresight and protection of one’s people.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira reports Kṛṣṇa’s words: Kṛṣṇa advises that they should not remain inside the military camp for the night, but stay outside it for their security and auspicious welfare, implying a perceived danger within the camp.