Shloka 9
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 186 — Drupada’s Summons and the Pāñcāla Reception
दृष्टवा तु तान् मत्तगजेन्द्ररूपान् पज्चाभिपषझानिव वारणेन्द्रान् । भस्मावृताड्ानिव हव्यवाहान् कृष्ण: प्रदध्यौ यदुवीरमुख्य:,यदुवंशी वीरोंके प्रधान नेता श्रीकृष्णने लक्ष्मीके सम्मुख विराजमान गजराजों तथा राखमें छिपी हुई आगके समान मतवाले हाथीकी-सी आकृतिवाले पाण्डवोंको, जो अपने सब अंगोंमें भस्म लपेटे हुए थे, देखकर (तुरंत) पहचान लिया
dṛṣṭvā tu tān mattagajendrarūpān pañcābhipṛṣṭhān iva vāraṇendrān | bhasmāvṛtāṅgān iva havyavāhān kṛṣṇaḥ pradadhyau yaduvīramukhyaḥ ||
Seeing them—those five, whose forms resembled intoxicated lordly elephants, like mighty elephant-kings pressed hard on every side, and like fires hidden beneath ash with their limbs coated in dust and ash—Kṛṣṇa, the foremost hero of the Yadus, at once reflected and recognized what had happened. The verse underscores discerning intelligence and loyal concern: even when the righteous are outwardly disfigured by hardship, a true ally perceives their identity and plight and prepares to act in accordance with dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True discernment and loyalty do not depend on outward appearance. Even when the righteous are obscured by suffering and disguise, a dharmic ally recognizes them and responds with protective intent.
Kṛṣṇa sees the five Pāṇḍavas in a distressed, ash-covered state, compared to powerful elephants and to fire hidden under ash, and he immediately reflects and recognizes them, grasping their situation.