Shloka 286

Devanagari script

बालेनापि सता तेन कृतं साहां जनार्दन । “जनार्दन! जब हमलोग वनमें थे, उन दिनों महामनस्वी हिडिम्बाकुमारने बालक होनेपर भी हमारी बड़ी भारी सहायता की थी

Transliteration

bālenāpi satā tena kṛtaṃ sāhāṃ janārdana

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Ô Janārdana, bien qu’il ne fût qu’un enfant, il nous rendit une aide immense.» Cette parole rappelle un secours d’autrefois et souligne le poids moral de la gratitude et le devoir de se souvenir des bienfaiteurs, même au cœur de la guerre.

Word by Word

बालेनby a boy / by a child

अपिeven, also

सताby that good/noble (one)

तेनby him / by that (one)

कृतम्done, performed

साहाय्यम्help, assistance

जनार्दनO Janārdana (Krishna)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic importance of gratitude: one should remember and acknowledge help received, regardless of the helper’s age or status, and treat benefaction as morally significant.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya addresses Kṛṣṇa as Janārdana and recalls that someone—described as virtuous and still a boy—once provided them substantial assistance, invoking a past obligation or reason for regard.