Shloka 6
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
मधुसूदन! उसके बाद अधिरथ नामक सूत मुझे जलमें देखते ही निकालकर अपने घर ले आये और बड़े स्नेहसे मुझे अपनी पत्नी राधाकी गोदमें दे दिया ।।
matsnehāc caiva rādhāyāṃ sadyaḥ kṣīram avātarat | sā me mūtra-purīṣaṃ ca pratijagrāha mādhava ||
「マドゥスーダナよ！ そののち、御者アディラタは水の中の私を見つけるや、ただちに引き上げて自宅へ連れ帰り、深い慈しみをもって妻ラーダーの膝に私を抱かせた。私への情愛ゆえに、ラーダーの乳はたちまち湧き出た。マーダヴァよ、無力な乳児であったその時、彼女は私の尿や糞を始末する務めさえ引き受け—優しさと責任をもって母としての重荷をすべて担ったのだ。」
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical motherhood and gratitude: true parenthood is shown through care, responsibility, and compassion, not merely by birth. It also underscores the dignity of nurturing labor and the moral weight of acknowledging those who raised and protected one.
Karna, speaking to Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava), recalls his infancy with his foster mother Rādhā. He describes how, moved by affection, she began lactating immediately and took on the intimate duties of caring for a newborn, emphasizing her genuine maternal role in his life.