Shloka 6
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
मधुसूदन! उसके बाद अधिरथ नामक सूत मुझे जलमें देखते ही निकालकर अपने घर ले आये और बड़े स्नेहसे मुझे अपनी पत्नी राधाकी गोदमें दे दिया ।।
matsnehāc caiva rādhāyāṃ sadyaḥ kṣīram avātarat | sā me mūtra-purīṣaṃ ca pratijagrāha mādhava ||
“¡Oh Madhusūdana! Después, el auriga llamado Adhiratha, al verme en el agua, me sacó de inmediato y me llevó a su casa; y con gran cariño me puso en el regazo de su esposa, Rādhā. Por el profundo afecto que me tenía, la leche de Rādhā brotó al instante. ¡Oh Mādhava!, en aquella infancia desvalida, ella aceptó incluso la tarea de limpiar mi orina y mis heces—abrazando con ternura y responsabilidad toda la carga de la maternidad.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical motherhood and gratitude: true parenthood is shown through care, responsibility, and compassion, not merely by birth. It also underscores the dignity of nurturing labor and the moral weight of acknowledging those who raised and protected one.
Karna, speaking to Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava), recalls his infancy with his foster mother Rādhā. He describes how, moved by affection, she began lactating immediately and took on the intimate duties of caring for a newborn, emphasizing her genuine maternal role in his life.