Shloka 53
Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Auspicious Omens, and the Opening of the Uttaṅka Dialogue (कृष्णप्रयाण-निमित्त-उत्तङ्कसंवाद-प्रारम्भः)
तथेत्यथोक्तः प्रतिपूजितस्तदा गदाग्रजो धर्मसुतेन वीर्यवान् । पितृष्वसारं त्ववदद् यथाविधि सम्पूजितश्नाप्यगमत् प्रदक्षिणम्,उनके ऐसा कहनेपर धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिने जो आज्ञा कहकर उनके वचनोंका आदर किया। उनसे सम्मानित हो पराक्रमी श्रीकृष्णने अपनी बुआ कुन्तीके पास जाकर बातचीत की और उनसे यथोचित सत्कार पाकर उनकी प्रदक्षिणा की
tathety athoktaḥ pratipūjitas tadā gadāgrajo dharmasutena vīryavān | pitṛṣvasāraṁ tv avadad yathāvidhi sampūjitaś cāpy agamat pradakṣiṇam ||
Thus addressed, the mighty elder brother of Gada (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) replied, “So be it,” and was duly honored by Dharmasuta Yudhiṣṭhira. Then, in the proper manner, he spoke with his paternal aunt Kuntī; having been respectfully received by her as well, he circumambulated her—an act that affirms reverence for elders and the ethical order of family and dharma.
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct through mutual honoring: a king (Yudhiṣṭhira) shows reverence to a revered guest (Kṛṣṇa), and Kṛṣṇa in turn observes proper familial and ritual respect toward elders (Kuntī) by courteous speech and pradakṣiṇā.
After Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully accepts and honors Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa goes to his paternal aunt Kuntī, converses with her according to propriety, receives her respectful welcome, and then circumambulates her as a sign of reverence.