Shloka 21

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry and Sañjaya’s Etymologies of Kṛṣṇa’s Names

Puruṣottama-nāma-nirvacana

Devanagari script

अप्राप्य: केशवो राजन्निन्द्रियेरजितैर्नभि: । आगमाधिगमाद्‌ू योगाद्‌ वशी तत्त्वे प्रसीदति,राजन! मनुष्य अपनी इन्द्रियोंपर विजय प्राप्त किये बिना भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णको नहीं पा सकते। जिसने शास्त्रज्ञान और योगके प्रभावसे अपने मन और इन्द्रियोंको वशमें कर रखा है, वही तत्त्वज्ञान पाकर प्रसन्न होता है

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | aprāpyaḥ keśavo rājan indriyaiḥ ajitaiḥ nṛbhiḥ | āgamādhigamād yogād vaśī tattve prasīdati rājan ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Ô Roi, Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) ne peut être atteint par ceux qui n’ont pas vaincu leurs sens. Mais celui qui, par l’intelligence des śāstra et la discipline du yoga, a soumis l’esprit et les sens—ce maître de soi obtient la connaissance du Réel et demeure dans la clarté intérieure et le contentement.»

Word by Word

• {'sañjaya uvāca': 'Sañjaya said', 'aprāpyaḥ': 'unattainable

• not to be reached', 'keśavaḥ': 'Keśava (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)', 'rājan': 'O King (address to Dhṛtarāṣṭra)', 'indriyaiḥ': 'by/with the senses', 'ajitaiḥ': 'unconquered

• uncontrolled', 'nṛbhiḥ': 'by men

• by human beings', 'āgama': 'scripture

• authoritative tradition', 'adhigama': 'attainment/realization

• acquired understanding', 'yoga': 'yogic discipline

• concentrated practice', 'vaśī': 'self-controlled

• one who has mastery', 'tattva': 'truth

• principle', 'prasīdati': 'becomes serene

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'rājan')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) is not reached through uncontrolled living; mastery over the senses and mind, supported by scriptural guidance (āgama) and yogic discipline, leads to realization of truth (tattva) and inner serenity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva dialogue, Sañjaya addresses the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra), emphasizing ethical-spiritual preparation: true understanding and closeness to Kṛṣṇa depend on self-restraint and disciplined practice, not mere status or desire.