Shloka 5
Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Auspicious Omens, and the Opening of the Uttaṅka Dialogue (कृष्णप्रयाण-निमित्त-उत्तङ्कसंवाद-प्रारम्भः)
रथस्थं तु महातेजा वासुदेवं धनंजय: । पुनरेवाब्रवीद् वाक्यमिदं भरतसत्तम,भरतभूषण! रथपर बैठे हुए भगवान् श्रीकृष्णसे पुनः इस प्रकार महातेजस्वी अर्जुन बोले--
rathasthaṃ tu mahātejā vāsudevaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ | punar evābravīd vākyam idaṃ bharatasattama bharatabhūṣaṇa |
Then the radiant Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya), seeing Vāsudeva seated upon the chariot, once again addressed him with these words—O best of the Bharatas, O ornament of the Bharata race. The narrative frames Arjuna’s renewed inquiry as respectful and ethically charged: he turns again to Kṛṣṇa as charioteer and guide, seeking clarity on right conduct after the great war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical posture of seeking counsel: Arjuna, though heroic and radiant, repeatedly turns to Kṛṣṇa as a trusted guide. The implied teaching is humility before dharma—renewing one’s inquiry and aligning action with wise guidance rather than relying solely on personal prowess.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Arjuna, seeing Kṛṣṇa seated on the chariot, addresses him again with honorifics. This is a transition verse introducing Arjuna’s next statement or question in the Ashvamedhika Parva context.