Shloka 40
एषैव बुद्धिर्जुषतां सदा त्वां सत्ये स्थिता: केशव पाण्डवेया: । सदानधर्मा: सजना: सदारा: सबान्धवास्त्वच्छरणा हि पार्था:,“भगवन्! हमने अपनी प्रतिज्ञाके अनुसार बारह वर्षोका सारा समय निर्जन वनोंमें घूमकर बिता दिया है। अब अज्ञातवासकी अवधि भी विधिपूर्वक पूर्ण कर लेनेपर हम समस्त पाण्डव आपकी आज्ञाके अधीन हो जायूँगे। नाथ! आपकी भी बुद्धि सदा ऐसी ही बनी रहे। ये पाण्डव सदा सत्यके पालनमें संलग्न रहे हैं। प्रभो! दान-धर्मसे युक्त हम सभी कुन्तीपुत्र सेवक, परिजन, स्त्री, पुत्र तथा बन्धु-बान्धवोंसहित केवल आपकी ही शरणमें हैं!
eṣaiva buddhir juṣatāṁ sadā tvāṁ satye sthitāḥ keśava pāṇḍaveyāḥ | sadāna-dharmāḥ sajjanāḥ sadārāḥ sabāndhavās tvaccharaṇā hi pārthāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “May this very resolve ever abide in you. The Pāṇḍavas, O Keśava, stand firm in truth. Ever devoted to gifts and righteous conduct, good in character, together with their wives and all their kinsmen, the sons of Pṛthā (the Pārthas) have taken refuge in you alone.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights two ethical pillars: steadfastness in truth (satya) and commitment to righteous giving and conduct (dāna-dharma). It also frames devotion as śaraṇāgati—placing one’s trust and protection in a worthy guide (here, Keśava), aligning moral life with humble reliance rather than pride.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, the Pāṇḍavas are described as truth-abiding and consistently devoted to dharma, presenting themselves—along with their wives and kin—as taking refuge in Keśava. The statement functions as a characterization of their moral stance and their dependence on Kṛṣṇa’s guidance at a crucial juncture of their exile-related commitments.