Shloka 24
Kṛṣṇasya Khāṇḍavaprasthāt Dvārakā-prayāṇaḥ | Krishna’s Departure for Dvārakā
पाण्डवो यादवश्रेष्ठ कृष्णं कमललोचनम् । गम्यतामित्यनुज्ञाप्य धर्मराजो युधिष्ठटिर:,तदनन्तर धर्मज्ञ गोविन्दने प्रणाम करके युधिष्ठिरके पैर पकड़ लिये। फिर पाण्डुकुमार धर्मराज युधिष्छिरने यादवश्रेष्ठ कमलनयन केशवको दोनों हाथोंसे उठाकर उनका मस्तक सूँघा और “जाओ” कहकर उन्हें जानेकी आज्ञा दी
Pāṇḍavo Yādavaśreṣṭhaṃ Kṛṣṇaṃ kamalalocanam | gamyatām ity anujñāpya dharmarājo Yudhiṣṭhiraḥ || tad-anantaraṃ dharmajño Govindāya praṇamya Yudhiṣṭhiraḥ pādau jagrāha | tataḥ Pāṇḍukumaras sa dharmarājo Yudhiṣṭhiraḥ Yādavaśreṣṭhaṃ kamalanayanaṃ Keśavaṃ ubhābhyāṃ hastābhyām utthāpya tasya mastakaṃ ghrātvā “gaccha” iti tam anujajñe ||
Kemudian Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, setelah mengizinkan Kṛṣṇa—yang utama di antara Yādava, bermata laksana teratai—berkata: “Berangkatlah.” Sesudah itu Yudhiṣṭhira yang mengetahui dharma menunduk kepada Govinda dan memegang kakinya dengan hormat. Lalu putera Pāṇḍu itu mengangkat Keśava dengan kedua tangan, mendekapnya, menghidu ubun-ubunnya dengan kasih; dan sambil berkata “Pergilah,” baginda memberi izin rasmi untuk berangkat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is expressed not only in grand decisions but also in conduct: Yudhiṣṭhira combines formal permission (royal propriety) with reverence (touching the feet) and affectionate honor (raising Kṛṣṇa and smelling his head), showing humility, gratitude, and righteous relationship with a divine ally.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira gives Kṛṣṇa leave to depart. After granting permission, he bows to Govinda, touches his feet, then lifts him up with both hands and affectionately smells his head, finally saying “Go,” thus concluding the meeting with reverence and warmth.