Shloka 79
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
कृषामि मेदिनीं पार्थ भूत्वा कार्ष्णायसो महान् | कृष्णो वर्णश्व॒ मे यस्मात् तस्मात् कृष्णोडहमर्जुन,पृथापुत्र अर्जुन! मैं काले लोहेका विशाल फाल बनकर इस पृथ्वीको जोतता हूँ तथा मेरे शरीरका रंग भी काला है, इसलिये मैं “कृष्ण” कहलाता हूँ:
kṛṣāmi medinīṃ pārtha bhūtvā kārṣṇāyaso mahān | kṛṣṇo varṇaś ca me yasmāt tasmāt kṛṣṇo 'ham arjuna ||
Wahai Pārtha, aku membajak bumi dengan menjelma menjadi mata bajak yang besar dari besi gelap. Dan karena warna tubuhku pun gelap, maka aku disebut “Kṛṣṇa”, wahai Arjuna putra Pṛthā.
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
Educational Q&A
The verse grounds a revered name in concrete qualities—work and nature—suggesting that identity and honor can be understood through one’s function (tilling/sustaining the earth) and inherent attributes (dark complexion), not merely through lineage or status.
The speaker addresses Arjuna and explains the designation “Kṛṣṇa” by giving two reasons: he ‘ploughs the earth’ as a great dark-iron implement, and his own complexion is dark; thus the name arises from both action and appearance.