Shloka 20
Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna Saṃvāda in Indraprastha: Consolation, Legitimation, and Leave for Dvārakā (आश्वमेधिकपर्व, अध्याय १५)
कालो महांस्त्वतीतो मे शूरसूनुमपश्यत: । बलदेवं च कौरव्य तथान्यान् वृष्णिपुज्वान्
vāyudeva uvāca |
kālo mahāṁs tv atīto me śūrasūnum apaśyataḥ |
baladevaṁ ca kauravya tathānyān vṛṣṇipuṅgavān |
niṣpāpa kurunandana |
idaṁ sabhābhavanaṁ ramyaṁ ca pavitraṁ ca svargavat sukhadam |
atra tvayā saha vasan bahavo divasā vyatītāḥ |
etāvadbhir divasair ahaṁ pitaram śūrasenakumāraṁ vasudevaṁ draṣṭuṁ na śakto 'bhavam |
bhrātaraṁ baladevaṁ cānyāṁś ca vṛṣṇivaṁśasya śreṣṭhān puruṣān adarśanena vihīnaḥ |
atas tv idānīṁ dvārakāpurīṁ gantum icchāmi |
puruṣapravara tvam api mama yātrāprastāvaṁ saharṣaṁ pratigṛhṇīyāḥ ||
Vāyudeva berkata: “Wahai Kaurava, telah lama berlalu bagiku tanpa melihat putra Śūrasena, Vasudeva; juga Baladeva, serta para pahlawan utama lainnya dari wangsa Vṛṣṇi. Wahai Kurunandana yang tanpa noda, balairung pertemuan ini indah dan suci, menyenangkan laksana surga; tinggal di sini bersamamu, banyak hari telah lewat. Namun selama itu aku tak dapat memandang ayahku, Vasudeva sang pangeran Śūrasena; dan aku pun kehilangan kesempatan melihat saudaraku Baladeva serta para lelaki mulia dari kaum Vṛṣṇi. Karena itu kini aku hendak pergi ke kota Dvārakā. Wahai insan terbaik, terimalah dengan gembira usulku mengenai perjalanan ini.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights ethical priorities in relationships: even amid comfort and honor in a noble court, one should not neglect duties of kinship and the longing to meet elders and family. It also models courteous communication—seeking consent and framing departure as a respectful proposal rather than abrupt withdrawal.
Vāyudeva addresses a Kuru prince, saying that many days have passed while staying in the pleasant, sacred assembly-hall, but he has not seen Vasudeva (called the son of Śūrasena), nor Baladeva and other leading Vṛṣṇis. He therefore expresses his wish to depart for Dvārakā and asks the addressee to approve the journey gladly.