Shloka 17
Śānti Parva Adhyāya 43 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Stuti of Kṛṣṇa
Assembly Hymn of Many Names
एवं स्तुतो धर्मराजेन कृष्ण: सभामध्ये प्रीतिमान् पुष्कराक्ष: । तमभ्यनन्दद् भारतं पुष्कलाभि- वम्भिज्येष्ठं पाण्डवं यादवाग्र्य:
evaṁ stuto dharmarājena kṛṣṇaḥ sabhāmadhye prītimān puṣkarākṣaḥ | tam abhyanandad bhārataṁ puṣkalābhir vākbhir jyeṣṭhaṁ pāṇḍavaṁ yādavāgryaḥ ||
Ainsi loué par Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira au milieu de l’assemblée royale, Kṛṣṇa, aux yeux de lotus et le cœur comblé de joie, félicita chaleureusement, par des paroles abondantes et gracieuses, le plus éminent des Bhārata, l’aîné des Pāṇḍava.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical reciprocity: when a ruler grounded in dharma offers sincere reverence and right speech, the worthy respond with gracious affirmation. It models ideal courtly conduct—humility, gratitude, and the strengthening of dharmic leadership through respectful dialogue.
In the assembly, Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) has just praised Kṛṣṇa. Pleased, Kṛṣṇa—described as lotus-eyed and foremost among the Yādavas—responds by congratulating and honoring Yudhiṣṭhira, the eldest Pāṇḍava, with abundant, auspicious words.