Shloka 32
Adhyāya 52 (Sabhā-parva): Vidura Invites Yudhiṣṭhira to Hastināpura for the Dice Match
वृष्णिकुलभूषण वसुदेवनन्दन श्रीकृष्णने भी अर्जुनका आदर करते हुए चौदह हजार उत्तम हाथी दिये। श्रीकृष्ण अर्जुनके आत्मा हैं और अर्जुन श्रीकृष्णके आत्मा हैं ।।
yad brūyād arjunaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ sarvaṃ kuryād asaṃśayam | kṛṣṇo dhanañjayasyārthe svargalokam api tyajet ||
Duryodhana déclara : «Śrī Kṛṣṇa —parure du clan des Vṛṣṇi, fils de Vasudeva— a honoré Arjuna et lui a donné quatorze mille éléphants d’élite. Kṛṣṇa est l’ātman d’Arjuna, et Arjuna est l’ātman de Kṛṣṇa. Quoi qu’Arjuna dise à Kṛṣṇa, il l’accomplira sans le moindre doute. Pour Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa renoncerait même au ciel.»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights absolute fidelity in friendship: Kṛṣṇa is portrayed as so committed to Arjuna that he would fulfill any request and even relinquish heaven for him. Ethically, it presents loyalty and self-sacrifice as an ideal—though, in the courtly context, such loyalty is also perceived through the lens of power and advantage.
In the Sabha (royal assembly) setting, Duryodhana comments on the extraordinary bond between Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna. He emphasizes that Kṛṣṇa will act unhesitatingly for Arjuna’s benefit, underscoring why their alliance is formidable within the unfolding conflict between the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas.