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Shloka 22

Kṛṣṇa Comforts His Parents, Restores Ugrasena, Studies with Sāndīpani, and Returns the Guru’s Son

स पिता सा च जननी यौ पुष्णीतां स्वपुत्रवत् । शिशून् बन्धुभिरुत्सृष्टानकल्पै: पोषरक्षणे ॥ २२ ॥

sa pitā sā ca jananī yau puṣṇītāṁ sva-putra-vat śiśūn bandhubhir utsṛṣṭān akalpaiḥ poṣa-rakṣaṇe

स एव पिता सा च जननी यौ स्वपुत्रवत् पुष्णीतां, बन्धुभिरुत्सृष्टान् शिशून् अनल्पैः पोषरक्षणे।

saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun
pitāfather
pitā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
she
:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
jananīmother
jananī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootjananī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
yauwho (two)
yau:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormRelative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; correlates with saḥ...sā
puṣṇītāmshould nourish
puṣṇītām:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpuṣ (धातु)
FormPresent optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual; parasmaipada
sva-putra-vatas (if) their own son
sva-putra-vat:
Prakāra (प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsva (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
FormComparative indeclinable (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग) meaning 'like one's own son'
śiśūnchildren
śiśūn:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśiśu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural
bandhubhiḥby relatives
bandhubhiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural
utsṛṣṭānabandoned, left behind
utsṛṣṭān:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootud-sṛj (धातु) → utsṛṣṭa (कृदन्त, क्त)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifying śiśūn
akalpaiḥby those incapable
akalpaiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Roota-kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; 'incapable/unfit' (negated kalpa)
poṣa-rakṣaṇein nourishing and protecting
poṣa-rakṣaṇe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootpoṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; dvandva: poṣaḥ ca rakṣaṇam ca
U
Uddhava

FAQs

This verse teaches that real fatherhood and motherhood are shown by nourishing and protecting helpless children who have been abandoned by relatives unable to care for them.

In His instructions to Uddhava, Kṛṣṇa defines true virtue in practical terms—dharma expressed as compassionate responsibility toward the vulnerable.

Support and protect vulnerable children—through adoption, fostering, charity, mentorship, or community care—treating them with the same concern one would give one’s own family.