Shloka 23
मौसलपर्व — अध्याय ८
Arjuna’s evacuation of Dvārakā, Vasudeva’s rites, and the caravan’s crisis
परिनिर्विण्णचेताश्न शान्तिं नोपलभेडपि च । (देवकीनन्दनं देवं वासुदेवमजं प्रभुम् ।) विना जनार्दनं वीर नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे,मेरे चित्तमें निर्वेद छा गया है। मुझे शान्ति नहीं मिलती है। मैं देवस्वरूप, अजन्मा, भगवान् देवकीनन्दन वासुदेव वीर जनार्दनके बिना अब जीवित रहना नहीं चाहता
parinirviṇṇacetāś ca śāntiṁ nopalabhe 'pi ca | devakīnandanaṁ devaṁ vāsudevam ajaṁ prabhum | vinā janārdanaṁ vīra nāhaṁ jīvitum utsahe ||
परिनिर्विण्णचेताः शान्तिं नोपलभेऽपि च। देवकीनन्दनं देवं वासुदेवमजं प्रभुम् विना जनार्दनं वीर नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे॥
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-spiritual truth that when one’s sustaining guide and refuge (here, Kṛṣṇa as Janārdana/Vāsudeva) is gone, even a heroic person can lose inner steadiness; peace (śānti) is portrayed as rooted not merely in external victory but in alignment with the Divine.
In the Mausala Parva’s aftermath, Arjuna is overwhelmed by sorrow and inner exhaustion. Remembering Kṛṣṇa’s divinity and uniqueness, he confesses that without Janārdana he cannot find peace and does not feel capable of continuing life.