Kṛṣṇa Comforts His Parents, Restores Ugrasena, Studies with Sāndīpani, and Returns the Guru’s Son
स पिता सा च जननी यौ पुष्णीतां स्वपुत्रवत् । शिशून् बन्धुभिरुत्सृष्टानकल्पै: पोषरक्षणे ॥ २२ ॥
sa pitā sā ca jananī yau puṣṇītāṁ sva-putra-vat śiśūn bandhubhir utsṛṣṭān akalpaiḥ poṣa-rakṣaṇe
真の父、真の母とは、養い守る力のない親族に捨てられた子どもたちを、自分の子のように育て守る者のことである。
This verse teaches that real fatherhood and motherhood are shown by nourishing and protecting helpless children who have been abandoned by relatives unable to care for them.
In His instructions to Uddhava, Kṛṣṇa defines true virtue in practical terms—dharma expressed as compassionate responsibility toward the vulnerable.
Support and protect vulnerable children—through adoption, fostering, charity, mentorship, or community care—treating them with the same concern one would give one’s own family.