Shloka 4
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
वासुदेवं पुरस्कृत्य सर्वे ते क्षत्रियर्षभा: । परिवार्योपविविशुर्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । अभिवाद्य कुरुश्रेष्ठ विषण्ण: केशवो<ब्रवीत्,भगवान् श्रीकृष्णको आगे करके वे सभी क्षत्रियशिरोमणि धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरको चारों ओरसे घेरकर बैठे। उस समय भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण विषादग्रस्त हो कुरुप्रवर युधिष्ठिरको नमस्कार करके इस प्रकार बोले
vāsudevaṃ puraskṛtya sarve te kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ | parivāryopaviviśur dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | abhivādya kuruśreṣṭha viṣaṇṇaḥ keśavo 'bravīt ||
Dengan Vāsudeva di hadapan, semua pemimpin kṣatriya yang gagah itu mengelilingi Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira lalu duduk di sekitarnya. Kemudian Keśava—muram oleh dukacita—memberi hormat kepada yang terbaik antara kaum Kuru, lalu berkata.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld through orderly counsel and reverent conduct: leaders gather around the righteous king, acknowledge hierarchy and respect (abhivādya), and speak with awareness of the moral burden (viṣaṇṇaḥ). The verse highlights that ethical decisions are made in community, under guidance, not in isolation or haste.
The foremost kṣatriyas assemble around Yudhiṣṭhira, with Kṛṣṇa placed at the forefront. After saluting Yudhiṣṭhira, Kṛṣṇa—visibly sorrowful—begins to speak, setting up a serious discussion shaped by grief and responsibility.