Shloka 32
The Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa from Hastināpura
अजातशत्रु: पृतनां गोपीथाय मधुद्विष: । परेभ्य: शङ्कित: स्नेहात्प्रायुङ्क्त चतुरङ्गिणीम् ॥ ३२ ॥
ajāta-śatruḥ pṛtanāṁ gopīthāya madhu-dviṣaḥ parebhyaḥ śaṅkitaḥ snehāt prāyuṅkta catur-aṅgiṇīm
Maharaja Yudhiṣṭhira, yang tidak bermusuhan dengan sesiapa, demi mengiringi Tuhan Kṛṣṇa, musuh para asura, kerana berjaga-jaga terhadap musuh dan kerana kasih kepada-Nya, telah mengerahkan tentera empat divisi: kereta, gajah, kuda dan infantri.
Natural defensive measures are horses and elephants combined with chariots and men. Horses and elephants are trained to move to any part of the hills or forests and plains. The charioteers could fight with many horses and elephants by the strength of powerful arrows, even up to the standard of the brahmāstra (similar to modern atomic weapons). Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira knew well that Kṛṣṇa is everyone’s friend and well-wisher, and yet there were asuras who were by nature envious of the Lord. So out of fear of attack from others and out of affection also, he engaged all varieties of defensive forces as bodyguards of Lord Kṛṣṇa. If required, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself was sufficient to defend Himself from the attack of others who counted the Lord as their enemy, but still He accepted all the arrangements made by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira because He could not disobey the King, who was His elder cousin. The Lord plays the part of a subordinate in His transcendental sporting, and thus sometimes He puts Himself in the care of Yaśodāmātā for His protection in His so-called helplessness of childhood. That is the transcendental līlā, or pastime of the Lord. The basic principle for all transcendental exchanges between the Lord and His devotees is exhibited to enjoy a transcendental bliss for which there is no comparison, even up to the level of brahmānanda.
FAQs
Out of affectionate concern and caution—he feared possible hostility from other rulers, so he arranged a fourfold army as an escort for Kṛṣṇa.
Ajātaśatru refers to King Yudhiṣṭhira (one who has no enemies), and Madhudviṣa refers to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the slayer of the demon Madhu.
Even when one has faith, loving responsibility includes prudent protection—care for those you serve and honor, and take sensible steps to prevent avoidable harm.