Shloka 48

Devanagari script

इयेष निर्गन्तुमथो वनाय त॑ वासुदेव: प्रणतो5भ्युवाच

Transliteration

iyeṣa nirgantum atho vanāya taṁ vāsudevaḥ praṇato 'bhyuvāca

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Lorsqu’il se résolut à partir pour la forêt, Vāsudeva—s’inclinant avec révérence—s’adressa à lui. L’instant marque un tournant moral : le retrait et le renoncement ne sont pas contrés par la force, mais accueillis par un conseil respectueux, suggérant que même dans la crise on doit être conduit par l’humilité et la parole juste plutôt que par la contrainte.

Word by Word

इयेषwished/desired

निर्गन्तुम्to go out, to depart

अथthen/now

वनायto the forest

तम्him

वासुदेवःVasudeva (Krishna)

प्रणतःbowed down, having saluted

अभ्युवाचaddressed/spoke to

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

vana (forest)

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?

A dharmic response to another’s decision—especially a decision toward withdrawal or renunciation—is to approach with humility and respectful speech. The verse highlights that moral guidance is best offered through reverence and dialogue, not domination.

What is happening in the narrative?

Someone is about to leave for the forest (a gesture often associated with exile, retreat, or renunciation). At that moment Vāsudeva, after bowing, addresses him—signaling an important intervention or counsel at a critical juncture.