Shloka 40

Śārṅgakānāṃ Avināśaḥ (Why the Śārṅga Birds Were Spared) | शार्ङ्गकानामविनाशः

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरस्तु रामेण समागच्छद्‌ यथाविधि । मूर्घ्नि केशवमाप्राय बाहुभ्यां परिषस्वजे,युधिष्ठिरजी बलरामजीके साथ विधिपूर्वक मिले और श्रीकृष्णका मस्तक सूँघकर उन्हें दोनों भुजाओंमें कस लिया

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | yudhiṣṭhiras tu rāmeṇa samāgacchad yathāvidhi | mūrdhni keśavam āghrāya bāhubhyāṃ pariṣasvaje ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Yudhiṣṭhira se encontró con Balarāma según el rito prescrito. Luego, oliendo (con afectuosa reverencia) la cabeza de Keśava, lo estrechó con fuerza entre ambos brazos—un abrazo que señala reconciliación, respeto a los mayores y la restauración de la armonía familiar conforme al dharma.

Word by Word

युधिष्ठिरःYudhishthira

तुbut/indeed

रामेणwith Rama (Balarama)

समागच्छत्met/came together

यथाas/according to

विधिproper rule/rite

मूर्ध्निon the head

केशवम्Keshava (Krishna)

आप्रायhaving smelled

बाहुभ्याम्with (his) two arms

परिषस्वजेembraced

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Balarāma (Rāma)

Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct in relationships: meeting elders and kin 'yathāvidhi' (with proper decorum) and expressing respect and affection through culturally sanctioned gestures, reinforcing social harmony and ethical restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira formally meets Balarāma, then shows deep affection and reverence toward Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) by smelling his head and embracing him tightly, indicating warmth, acceptance, and restored unity among allies and family.