Shloka 52

Devanagari script

अतसीपुष्पसंकाश: पीतवासा जनार्दन:

Transliteration

atāsīpuṣpasaṅkāśaḥ pītavāsā janārdanaḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), clad in yellow garments and radiant like the blossom of the flax plant, appeared with a serene, auspicious brilliance—an image that signals divine guidance and moral steadiness amid the gathering tensions that will lead to war.

Word by Word

• अतसीपुष्पसंकाशः: having the appearance of flax-flowers (i.e., bluish like atasi blossoms)
• अतसीपुष्पसंकाशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतसीपुष्पसंकाश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पीतवासा: wearing yellow garments
• पीतवासा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीतवस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जनार्दनः: Janardana (Krishna)
• जनार्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses auspicious visual symbolism—Kṛṣṇa’s yellow garments and flower-like radiance—to underscore the presence of dharmic guidance. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical landscape, such descriptions remind the listener that right counsel and inner steadiness should prevail even when conflict is imminent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana) as he is seen in the scene: luminous like a flax blossom and wearing yellow robes. This sets a reverent tone and prepares the audience for Kṛṣṇa’s role as counselor and mediator during the tense negotiations of the Udyoga Parva.