Shloka 2

अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः

Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance

Devanagari script

जनार्दनं भीमसेनार्जुनौ च माद्रीसुतो सात्यकिं चेकितानम्‌ । आमन्त्रय गच्छामि शिवं सुखं व: सौम्येन मां पश्यत चक्षुषा नूपा:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | janārdanaṃ bhīmasenārjunau ca mādrīsuto sātyakiṃ cekitānam | āmantarya gacchāmi śivaṃ sukhaṃ vaḥ saumyena māṃ paśyata cakṣuṣā nṛpāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: “Sau khi xin cáo biệt Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), Bhīmasena và Arjuna, cùng con của Mādrī (hai anh em song sinh), Sātyaki và Cekitāna, nay tôi lên đường. Cầu chúc điềm lành và an khang đến với các ngài. Hỡi các bậc vương giả, xin hãy nhìn tôi bằng ánh mắt hiền hòa, đầy ân tình.”

Word by Word

• {'sañjaya uvāca': 'Sañjaya said', 'janārdanam': 'Janārdana

• an epithet of Kṛṣṇa, ‘protector/rouser of men’', 'bhīmasenaḥ': 'Bhīma

• the mighty son of Vāyu', 'arjunaḥ': 'Arjuna

• Pāṇḍava hero, son of Indra', 'mādrīsutaḥ': 'son of Mādrī

• Nakula or Sahadeva (the twins)', 'sātyakim': 'Sātyaki

• Yādava warrior, ally of the Pāṇḍavas', 'cekitānam': 'Cekitāna

• a king/warrior allied with the Pāṇḍavas', 'āmantarya': 'having asked leave

• after taking permission/farewell', 'gacchāmi': 'I go

• I depart', 'śivam': 'auspiciousness

• good fortune', 'sukham': 'happiness

• ease', 'vaḥ': 'for you (plural)', 'saumyena': 'with gentleness/kindness

• benevolently', 'paśyata': 'look (plural imperative)', 'cakṣuṣā': 'with the eye

• with a gaze', 'nṛpāḥ': 'O kings'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Janārdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Bhīmasena
• Arjuna
• Mādrīsuta (Nakula/Sahadeva)
• Sātyaki
• Cekitāna
• nṛpāḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct in tense times: one should depart only after taking proper leave, and one should offer blessings and maintain goodwill (saumya-dṛṣṭi) even amid political and martial uncertainty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya addresses the assembled kings, stating that he has taken leave of Kṛṣṇa and key Pāṇḍava allies (Bhīma, Arjuna, Mādrī’s son, Sātyaki, Cekitāna) and is now departing, while wishing them auspiciousness and asking for a kindly gaze.