Shloka 17
Arjuna Marries Subhadrā; Kṛṣṇa Honors Two Devotees in Mithilā (Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva)
तयो: प्रसन्नो भगवान् दारुकेणाहृतं रथम् । आरुह्य साकं मुनिभिर्विदेहान् प्रययौ प्रभु: ॥ १७ ॥
tayoḥ prasanno bhagavān dārukeṇāhṛtaṁ ratham āruhya sākaṁ munibhir videhān prayayau prabhuḥ
ആ രണ്ടുപേരിലും പ്രസന്നനായ ഭഗവാൻ ദാരുകൻ കൊണ്ടുവന്ന രഥത്തിൽ കയറി, മുനിമാരോടൊപ്പം വിദേഹദേശത്തേക്ക് പുറപ്പെട്ടു.
In his commentary on this verse, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī states that Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva were unable to travel to Dvārakā to see Lord Kṛṣṇa because both of them had vowed to regularly worship their personal Deity at home. Śrī Kṛṣṇa was very glad to go out of His way to give them both His audience, and while leaving Dvārakā He insisted that the sages who wanted to come with Him should join Him on His chariot, because otherwise they would exhaust themselves following on foot. Renowned sages would ordinarily never even consider traveling in such an opulent conveyance, but on the Lord’s order they put aside their natural aversion and joined Him on His chariot.
FAQs
This verse states that Krishna, pleased and accompanied by sages, departed for Videha—showing His purposeful movement within His līlā and His honoring of saintly association.
Dāruka is Krishna’s charioteer; here he brings the chariot for the Lord, illustrating devoted service through prompt, practical assistance to Bhagavān’s mission.
Seek saintly association (sadhu-saṅga), travel or act in ways that support spiritual growth, and serve the Lord and His devotees with readiness—like Dāruka’s attentive service.