Shloka 20
Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna Saṃvāda in Indraprastha: Consolation, Legitimation, and Leave for Dvārakā (आश्वमेधिकपर्व, अध्याय १५)
कालो महांस्त्वतीतो मे शूरसूनुमपश्यत: । बलदेवं च कौरव्य तथान्यान् वृष्णिपुज्वान्
vāyudeva uvāca |
kālo mahāṁs tv atīto me śūrasūnum apaśyataḥ |
baladevaṁ ca kauravya tathānyān vṛṣṇipuṅgavān |
niṣpāpa kurunandana |
idaṁ sabhābhavanaṁ ramyaṁ ca pavitraṁ ca svargavat sukhadam |
atra tvayā saha vasan bahavo divasā vyatītāḥ |
etāvadbhir divasair ahaṁ pitaram śūrasenakumāraṁ vasudevaṁ draṣṭuṁ na śakto 'bhavam |
bhrātaraṁ baladevaṁ cānyāṁś ca vṛṣṇivaṁśasya śreṣṭhān puruṣān adarśanena vihīnaḥ |
atas tv idānīṁ dvārakāpurīṁ gantum icchāmi |
puruṣapravara tvam api mama yātrāprastāvaṁ saharṣaṁ pratigṛhṇīyāḥ ||
ヴāユデーヴァは言った。「おおカウラヴァよ、久しい時が過ぎたというのに、シュūrasenaの子ヴァスデーヴァにも、バラデーヴァにも、またヴリシュニ族の最上の勇士たちにも、私は会えずにいる。おお罪なきクル族の喜びよ、この सभा（集会殿）は麗しく清らかで、天界のごとく心地よい。ここで汝と共に暮らしているうちに、多くの日々が流れた。だがその間、私は父ヴァスデーヴァ—シュūrasenaの王子—を拝することもできず、兄バラデーヴァやヴリシュニ族の優れた人々を見ることも叶わなかった。ゆえに今、私はドヴァーラカーの都へ赴きたい。おお人中の最勝者よ、この旅に関する私の申し出を、汝もまた喜んで受け入れるがよい。」
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights ethical priorities in relationships: even amid comfort and honor in a noble court, one should not neglect duties of kinship and the longing to meet elders and family. It also models courteous communication—seeking consent and framing departure as a respectful proposal rather than abrupt withdrawal.
Vāyudeva addresses a Kuru prince, saying that many days have passed while staying in the pleasant, sacred assembly-hall, but he has not seen Vasudeva (called the son of Śūrasena), nor Baladeva and other leading Vṛṣṇis. He therefore expresses his wish to depart for Dvārakā and asks the addressee to approve the journey gladly.