भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्
Departure to Behold Bhīṣma
भूतानीव समस्तानि ययु: कृष्णनिवेशनम् । तदनन्तर राजा युधिष्ठिर, भीमसेन, अर्जुन, नकुल और सहदेव सब एक रथपर आरूढ़ हो श्रीकृष्णके निवासस्थानपर गये, मानो समस्त महाभूत मूर्तिमान् होकर पधारे हों ।। १८ ई || आगच्छत्स्वथ कृष्णो5पि पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु
bhūtānīva samastāni yayuḥ kṛṣṇaniveśanam | tad-anantaraṁ rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ bhīmasenaḥ arjunaḥ nakulaḥ saha-devaś ca sarve eka-rathe ārūḍhāḥ śrī-kṛṣṇasya niveśana-sthānaṁ jagmuḥ, māno samastā mahā-bhūtā mūrtimantaḥ kṛtvā padhāritāḥ || atha āgacchat sv atha kṛṣṇo 'pi pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu ||
Comme si tous les êtres s’y portaient, ils allèrent vers la demeure de Kṛṣṇa. Ensuite le roi Yudhiṣṭhira, avec Bhīmasena, Arjuna, Nakula et Sahadeva, monta sur un même char et se rendit à la résidence de Śrī Kṛṣṇa, comme si les grands éléments eux-mêmes avaient pris corps et étaient arrivés. Alors Kṛṣṇa s’avança aussi pour accueillir ces Pāṇḍava magnanimes.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse underscores dharmic restoration after conflict: the Pāṇḍavas approach Kṛṣṇa together in unity and humility, and Kṛṣṇa reciprocates by coming forward—modeling mutual respect, hospitality, and the ethical necessity of seeking wise counsel and reconciliation in the aftermath of war.
After the preceding events, Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers ride together on a single chariot to Kṛṣṇa’s residence. The narrator heightens the scene with a cosmic simile—like the great elements embodied—then notes that Kṛṣṇa also comes out to meet the great-souled Pāṇḍavas.