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 |
毗湿摩波耶那说：黑天克里希纳与萨提亚基同行，让般度诸子居于前列，面向俱卢而行。罗希尼之子、英勇的婆罗摩既已离去，灭魔者摩杜苏达那克里希纳便公开择定般度族一方，使他们领路，在吉祥的普沙星宿之下启程，向库茹克舍特罗进发——此举昭示他在战争重压之中仍以护持正法为己任的道义承诺。
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.