Mahabharata 3.21.12 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 12
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
द्वारकाधिपतिर्वीर आह त्वामाहुको वच: । केशवैहि विजानीष्व यत् त्वां पितृसखो<ब्रवीत्
dvārakādhipatir vīra āha tvām āhuko vacaḥ | keśava iha vijānīṣva yat tvāṁ pitṛ-sakho 'bravīt ||
Utusan itu berkata: “Wahai pahlawan, penguasa Dvārakā, Āhuka (Ugrasena), mengirimkan pesan ini kepadamu. Wahai Keśava, ia sahabat ayahmu; maka datanglah kemari dan ketahuilah apa yang telah ia sampaikan kepadamu.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in social relations: when a legitimate authority or respected elder—especially one bound by friendship to one’s father—sends a message, one should respond with attentiveness and responsibility. It underscores trust, lineage-based obligations, and the ethical weight of a messenger’s words.
Vāyu reports a message addressed to Keśava (Kṛṣṇa): the ruler associated with Dvārakā, named Āhuka, summons him. The messenger emphasizes Āhuka’s close relationship to Kṛṣṇa’s father, urging Kṛṣṇa to come and hear/verify what is to be communicated.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.