Shloka 51
Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Auspicious Omens, and the Opening of the Uttaṅka Dialogue (कृष्णप्रयाण-निमित्त-उत्तङ्कसंवाद-प्रारम्भः)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत आश्वमेधिकपर्वके अन्तर्गत अनुगीतापर्वमें गुरुशिष्यसंवादाविषयक इकक््यावनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,एवं ब्रुवति कौरव्ये धर्मराजे युधिष्छिरे । वासुदेवो वर: पुंसामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् कुरुनन्दन धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर जब इस प्रकार कह रहे थे, उसी समय पुरुषोत्तम वसुदेवनन्दन भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने उनसे यह बात कही--
evaṁ bruvati kauravye dharmarāje yudhiṣṭhire | vāsudevo varaḥ puṁsām idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||
As Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira of the Kuru line was speaking in this manner, Vāsudeva—supreme among men—addressed him with these words. The narrative turns from the disciple’s discourse to the teacher’s reply, signaling a shift toward guidance grounded in dharma and right conduct.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse functions as a hinge: it emphasizes that dharma-oriented discourse invites authoritative guidance. By introducing Vāsudeva’s response to Dharmarāja, it frames the coming instruction as ethically normative and meant to clarify right conduct.
While Yudhiṣṭhira is speaking, the narrator notes that Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva), described as foremost among men, begins to speak. This marks a transition from Yudhiṣṭhira’s words to Kṛṣṇa’s counsel within the ongoing dialogue context.