Verse Text
yathā –
vinaya-madhura-mūrtir manthara-snigdha-tāro
vacana-paṭima-bhaṅgī-sūcitāśeṣa-nītiḥ |
abhidadhad iha dharmaṁ dharma-putropakaṇṭhe
dvija-patir iva sākṣāt prekṣyate kaṁsa-vairī ||234||
Translation
An example: Speaking about dharma in front of Yudhiṣṭhira, Kṛṣṇa appears like the best of brāhmaṇas, pleasant with modesty. His eyes are moving steadily and are filled with love. He shows unlimited good qualities through His skilful speech.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Kṛṣṇa appeared just like the best of brāhmaṇas. He showed his modesty by acting as Arjuna’s charioteer, and following along with the Pāṇdavas, and serving them. This also indicates that He tolerated suffering. Manthara-snigdha-tāraḥ (His eyes moving steadily) indicates his peacefulness. Discussing dharma with Yudhiṣṭhira indicates His discrimination.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Vinaya-madhura-mūrtiḥ (with sweet modesty) indicates that He able to tolerate difficulties (a quality of the dhīra-śānta) by His modesty (another quality of the dhīra-śānta). Whatever He was instructed to do at that place, He would follow.
sārathya-pāraṣada-sevana-sakhya-dautya-
vīrāsanānugamana-stavana-praṇāmān
snigdheṣu pāṇḍuṣu jagat-praṇatiṁ ca viṣṇor
bhaktiṁ karoti nṛ-patiś caraṇāravinde
Mahārāja Parīkṣit heard that out of His causeless mercy Lord Kṛṣṇa [Viṣṇu], who is universally obeyed, rendered all kinds of service to the malleable sons of Pāṇḍu by accepting posts ranging from chariot driver to president to messenger, friend, night watchman, etc., according to the will of the Pāṇḍavas, obeying them like a servant and offering obeisances like one younger in years. When he heard this, Mahārāja Parīkṣit became overwhelmed with devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord. SB 1.16.16
The verse quoted is connected with the verb “hearing” in the previous verse. Vīrāsana (sitting as a warrior) means that He stayed awake at night with sword in His hand. Nṛpati (king) refers to Parīkṣit. An alternate version of the verse has dharma-putropakaṇṭham (in front of Yudhiṣṭhira).
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
This dhīra-praśānta trait of Kṛṣṇa was exhibited in His dealings with the Pāṇḍavas. On account of the Pāṇḍavas’ faithful devotion to the Lord, He agreed to become their charioteer, their advisor, their friend, their messenger and sometimes their bodyguard. Such is an example of the result of devotional service toward Viṣṇu. When Kṛṣṇa was speaking to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira about religious principles, He demonstrated Himself to be a great learned scholar, but because He accepted the position of younger cousin to Yudhiṣṭhira, He was speaking in a very gentle tone which enhanced His beautiful bodily features. The movements of His eyes and the mode of His speech proved that He was very, very expert in giving moral instruction.