Shloka 15
Kurukṣetra-anudarśanam — Rāma-hradāḥ and the Question of Kṣatra Continuity (शान्ति पर्व, अध्याय ४८)
एतन्मे छिन्धि वार्ष्णेय संशयं ताक्ष्यकेतन । आगमो हि पर: कृष्ण त्वत्तो नो वासवानुज
etan me chindhi vārṣṇeya saṁśayaṁ tākṣyaketana | āgamo hi paraḥ kṛṣṇa tvatto no vāsavānuj ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : «Ô Vārṣṇeya, ô Kṛṣṇa dont l’étendard porte Tākṣya (Garuḍa), tranche ce doute qui m’habite. Car, ô Kṛṣṇa—ô cadet de Vāsava—il n’est pour nous d’autorité plus haute que toi.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Kṛṣṇa as the highest living authority for resolving moral and doctrinal uncertainty: when dharma becomes subtle and confusing, one should seek clarification from a trustworthy, enlightened guide whose understanding embodies the essence of āgama (authoritative tradition).
In the Śānti Parva’s post-war instruction setting, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Kṛṣṇa with reverential epithets and asks him to dispel a pressing doubt, affirming that for the Pāṇḍavas no scriptural authority surpasses Kṛṣṇa’s counsel.