Shloka 236

Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Auspicious Omens, and the Opening of the Uttaṅka Dialogue (कृष्णप्रयाण-निमित्त-उत्तङ्कसंवाद-प्रारम्भः)

Devanagari script

बलदेवं च दुर्धर्ष तथान्यान्‌ वृष्णिपुड़वान्‌ | “धर्मज्ञ एवं निष्पाप भगवान्‌ जनार्दन! मैं धर्मात्मा राजा युधिष्ठिके पास चलकर उनसे आपके जानेके लिये आज्ञा प्रदान करनेका अनुरोध करूँगा। इस समय आपका द्वारका जाना आवश्यक है, इसमें मेरी भी सम्मति है। अब आप शीघ्र ही मामाजीका दर्शन करेंगे और दुर्जय वीर बलदेवजी तथा अन्यान्य वृष्णिवंशी वीरोंसे मिल सकेंगे”

Transliteration

baladevaṃ ca durdharṣa tathānyān vṛṣṇipuṅgavān | “dharmajña evaṃ niṣpāpa bhagavān janārdana! ahaṃ dharmātmā rājā yudhiṣṭhiram upetya tasya tava gamanāya ājñāṃ prārthayiṣye. asmin kāle tava dvārakāgamanam āvaśyakam; atra mama api sammatiḥ. adhunā tvaṃ śīghram eva māmakaṃ mātulaṃ drakṣyasi, durjayaṃ vīraṃ baladevaṃ ca anyaiś ca vṛṣṇivaṃśīyair vīraiḥ saha samāgamiṣyasi”

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O Janārdana—knower of dharma and free from sin— I shall go to the righteous King Yudhiṣṭhira and request his permission for your departure. At this time your going to Dvārakā is necessary; I too agree. Soon you will behold your maternal uncle and meet the unconquerable hero Baladeva, along with the other valiant men of the Vṛṣṇi line.”

Word by Word

• बलदेवम्: Baladeva
• बलदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलदेव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दुर्धर्षम्: unassailable
• दुर्धर्षम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्धर्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वृष्णिपुङ्गवान्: chiefs/bulls among the Vṛṣṇis
• वृष्णिपुङ्गवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष्णिपुङ्गव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dvārakā
• Baladeva (Balarāma)
• Vṛṣṇis (Vṛṣṇivaṃśa)
• maternal uncle (mātula)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even exalted figures act within dharma through proper procedure: departure is not taken unilaterally but sought with the king’s consent, showing respect for rightful authority and the ethical order after war.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker indicates that Kṛṣṇa’s return to Dvārakā is timely and necessary, and that permission will be requested from King Yudhiṣṭhira; Kṛṣṇa is also reminded that he will soon meet his maternal uncle, Baladeva, and other Vṛṣṇi warriors.