Shloka 18
तीर्थयात्रा: सागरतीर्थ-शूर्पारक-प्रभासगमनम्
Pilgrimage to Sea Tīrthas, Śūrpāraka, and Prabhāsa
तमुग्रमास्थाय तपश्चरन्तं शुश्राव रामश्न जनार्दनश्व । तौ सर्ववृष्णिप्रवरौ ससैन्यौ युधिष्ठिरं जग्मतुराजमीढम्,इसी समय वृष्णिवंशशिरोमणि भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण और बलरामने सुना कि महाराज युधिष्ठिर प्रभासक्षेत्रमें उग्र तपस्या कर रहे हैं; तब वे अपने सैनिकोंसहित अजमीढकुलभूषण युधिष्ठिरसे मिलनेके लिये गये
tam ugram āsthāya tapaś carantaṁ śuśrāva rāmaś ca janārdanaś ca | tau sarva-vṛṣṇi-pravarau sa-sainyau yudhiṣṭhiraṁ jagmatur ājamīḍham ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Balarāma and Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) heard that Yudhiṣṭhira, having undertaken a severe vow, was practicing intense austerities. Then those two foremost among the Vṛṣṇis, accompanied by their forces, went to meet Yudhiṣṭhira, the glory of the Ājamīḍha line, to lend support to righteous endurance and uphold dharma in a time of hardship.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Severe self-discipline (tapas) undertaken for dharma draws the attention and support of righteous allies; ethical leadership is sustained not only by personal endurance but also by timely solidarity from kin and well-wishers.
Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa hear that Yudhiṣṭhira is engaged in intense austerities; they then travel with their forces to meet him, indicating concern, alliance, and readiness to assist the Pāṇḍava king.