Shloka 11
Uttanka’s Inquiry and Vāsudeva’s Adhyātma Exposition
Guṇa–Ritual–Immanence Teaching
अपि संधाय तान् वीरानुपावृत्तोडसि केशव । सम्बन्धिन: स्वदयितान् सतत वृष्णिपुड्रव
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: api sandhāya tān vīrān upāvṛtto 'si Keśava? sambandhinaḥ svadayitān satataṃ Vṛṣṇipuṅgava; Kauravāḥ Pāṇḍavāś ca tava sambandhinaḥ, tvāṃ ca sadā parama-priyāḥ.
Disse Vaiśampāyana: “Keśava, estás a regressar somente depois de teres promovido a reconciliação daqueles heróis? Ó o mais eminente dos Vṛṣṇis, os Kauravas e os Pāṇḍavas são teus parentes, e sempre te foram extremamente queridos.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid the aftermath of war, dharma favors restoring harmony where possible—especially among kin. The verse highlights Kṛṣṇa’s ethical burden as a relative to both sides and frames reconciliation as a higher duty than mere victory.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Kṛṣṇa (Keśava), asking whether he is returning only after arranging a settlement with the principal warriors. He emphasizes that both Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas are Kṛṣṇa’s relatives and always dear to him, underscoring the personal and political stakes of peace-making.