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,निष्पाप कुरुनन्दन! इस सभाभवनके रमणीय एवं पवित्र स्थान स्वर्गके समान सुखद हैं। यहाँ तुम्हारे साथ रहते हुए बहुत दिन बीत गये। इतने दिनोंतक मैं अपने पिता शूरसेनकुमार वसुदेवजीका दर्शन न कर सका। भैया बलदेव तथा अन्यान्य वृष्णिवंशके श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंके भी दर्शनसे वंचित रहा। अतः अब मैं द्वारकापुरीको जाना चाहता हूँ। पुरुषप्रवर! तुम्हें भी मेरे इस यात्रासम्बन्धी प्रस्तावको सहर्ष स्वीकार करना चाहिये
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 said: “A long time has passed for me, O Kaurava, without seeing the son of Śūrasena—Vasudeva—nor Baladeva, nor the other foremost heroes of the Vṛṣṇi line. O sinless joy of the Kurus, this assembly-hall is delightful and pure, as pleasant as heaven; living here with you, many days have gone by. Yet all this time I have been unable to behold my father Vasudeva, the prince of Śūrasena, and I have been deprived of the sight of my brother Baladeva and the other श्रेष्ठ men of the Vṛṣṇi clan. Therefore I now wish to go to the city of Dvārakā. Best of men, you too should gladly accept this proposal of mine concerning the journey.”
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.