Shloka 17
Śānti Parva Adhyāya 43 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Stuti of Kṛṣṇa
Assembly Hymn of Many Names
एवं स्तुतो धर्मराजेन कृष्ण: सभामध्ये प्रीतिमान् पुष्कराक्ष: । तमभ्यनन्दद् भारतं पुष्कलाभि- वम्भिज्येष्ठं पाण्डवं यादवाग्र्य:,इस प्रकार जब धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने सभामें यदुकुल-शिरोमणि कमलनयन भगवान् श्रीकृष्णकी स्तुति की, तब उन्होंने अत्यन्त प्रसन्न होकर भरतभूषण ज्येष्ठ पाण्डव युधिष्ठिरका उत्तम वचनोंद्वारा अभिनन्दन किया
evaṁ stuto dharmarājena kṛṣṇaḥ sabhāmadhye prītimān puṣkarākṣaḥ | tam abhyanandad bhārataṁ puṣkalābhir vākbhir jyeṣṭhaṁ pāṇḍavaṁ yādavāgryaḥ ||
Thus praised by Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira in the royal assembly, Kṛṣṇa—lotus-eyed and filled with delight—warmly commended that foremost of the Bhāratas, the eldest Pāṇḍava, with abundant and gracious words.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical reciprocity: when a ruler grounded in dharma offers sincere reverence and right speech, the worthy respond with gracious affirmation. It models ideal courtly conduct—humility, gratitude, and the strengthening of dharmic leadership through respectful dialogue.
In the assembly, Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) has just praised Kṛṣṇa. Pleased, Kṛṣṇa—described as lotus-eyed and foremost among the Yādavas—responds by congratulating and honoring Yudhiṣṭhira, the eldest Pāṇḍava, with abundant, auspicious words.