Shloka 79
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
कृषामि मेदिनीं पार्थ भूत्वा कार्ष्णायसो महान् | कृष्णो वर्णश्व॒ मे यस्मात् तस्मात् कृष्णोडहमर्जुन
kṛṣāmi medinīṃ pārtha bhūtvā kārṣṇāyaso mahān | kṛṣṇo varṇaś ca me yasmāt tasmāt kṛṣṇo 'ham arjuna ||
Hỡi Pārtha (Arjuna), ta cày xới mặt đất bằng cách hóa thành một lưỡi cày lớn bằng sắt đen. Và vì sắc thân ta cũng đen, nên ta được gọi là “Kṛṣṇa”, hỡi Arjuna, con của Pṛthā.
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
Educational Q&A
The verse grounds a revered name in concrete qualities—work and nature—suggesting that identity and honor can be understood through one’s function (tilling/sustaining the earth) and inherent attributes (dark complexion), not merely through lineage or status.
The speaker addresses Arjuna and explains the designation “Kṛṣṇa” by giving two reasons: he ‘ploughs the earth’ as a great dark-iron implement, and his own complexion is dark; thus the name arises from both action and appearance.