Shloka 44
प्रजानाथ! उसने कवच, धनुष, बाण और खड्ग धारण कर रखे थे। वह श्रीकृष्ण और पाण्डुपुत्र धनंजयको प्रणाम करके उस समय भगवान् श्रीकृष्णसे बोला--'प्रभो! यह मैं सेवामें उपस्थित हूँ। मुझे आज्ञा दीजिये, क्या करूँ?” ।। ततस्तं मेघसंकाशं दीप्तास्यं दीप्तकुण्डलम् | अभ्यभाषत हैडिम्बिं दाशार्ह: प्रहसन्निव,तदनन्तर प्रज्वलित मुख और प्रकाशित कुण्डलोंवाले मेघके समान काले हिडिम्बाकुमार घटोत्कचसे भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने हँसते हुए-से कहा
prajānātha! sa kavacaṃ dhanuḥ bāṇān khaḍgaṃ ca dhārayāmāsa. sa śrīkṛṣṇaṃ pāṇḍuputraṃ dhanañjayaṃ ca praṇamya tadā bhagavantaṃ śrīkṛṣṇam abravīt— “prabho! ahaṃ sevāyām upasthitaḥ. ājñāpaya, kiṃ karomi?” || tataḥ taṃ meghasaṅkāśaṃ dīptāsyaṃ dīptakuṇḍalam | abhyabhāṣata haiḍimbiṃ dāśārhaḥ prahasann iva ||
O Lord of creatures! Armed with his cuirass, bow, arrows, and sword, he bowed to Śrī Kṛṣṇa and to Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the son of Pāṇḍu. Then he addressed Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa: “Master, I stand ready in service. Command me—what shall I do today?” Thereupon Dāśārha (Kṛṣṇa), as though smiling, spoke to the Haiḍimba (Ghaṭotkaca), dark as a rain-cloud, with a blazing face and shining earrings—signaling the disciplined readiness of a warrior who submits his power to rightful command in the midst of war.
श्रीवायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined power: a mighty warrior first bows to legitimate authority and offers himself for service, asking for clear instruction. Ethically, it frames martial strength as something to be guided by dharma and rightful command rather than personal impulse.
Ghaṭotkaca arrives fully armed, salutes Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, and declares his readiness to serve. Kṛṣṇa then addresses him—described as cloud-dark with a blazing face and shining earrings—indicating that Kṛṣṇa is about to assign him a role in the ongoing battle.