Shloka 153
Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances
पाण्डवेयान् पुरस्कृत्य ययावभिमुख: कुरून् | सात्यकिसहित भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने पाण्डवोंका पक्ष लिया। रोहिणीनन्दन शूरवीर बलरामजीके चले जानेपर मधुसूदन भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने पाण्डवोंको आगे करके पुष्यनक्षत्रमें कुरुक्षेत्रकी ओर प्रस्थान किया
pāṇḍaveyān puraskṛtya yayāv abhimukhaḥ kurūn | sātyakisahito bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇo ne pāṇḍavāṇāṃ pakṣaṃ līlā | rohiṇīnandana śūravīra balarāmaji ke cale jāne par madhusūdano bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇo ne pāṇḍavān agre kṛtvā puṣyanakṣatre kurukṣetrasya oraṃ prasthānaṃ cakāra |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Inilagay ni Kṛṣṇa sa unahan ang mga anak ni Pāṇḍu at, kasama si Sātyaki, naglakbay siyang nakaharap sa mga Kuru. Nang makaalis na si Balarāma, ang bayaning anak ni Rohiṇī, hayagang pinili ni Madhusūdana Kṛṣṇa ang panig ng mga Pāṇḍava at sila ang pinauna, at sa ilalim ng mapalad na bituing Puṣya ay sinimulan ang pagmartsa patungong Kurukṣetra—isang gawaing nagtatakda ng kanyang paninindigang dharmiko sa gitna ng bigat ng digmaan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a war setting, ethical alignment matters: Kṛṣṇa’s deliberate choice to stand with the Pāṇḍavas highlights commitment to a cause understood as dharmic, and the act of placing them in front underscores responsible leadership rather than self-serving power.
After Balarāma has left, Kṛṣṇa—together with Sātyaki—formally aligns with the Pāṇḍavas and sets out toward the Kuru forces, beginning the journey to Kurukṣetra at the time marked by the Puṣya nakṣatra.