[Advaita-l] A query on 'kRishNa-sakha' in shriimad-bhaagavataM

[Anand Hudli]

shrIdhara svAmin explains "kR^iShNasakha" simply as "arjunasya sakhe". To
see why arjuna is called Krishna we may consult the mahAbhArata.

In the virATa parva, Arjuna tells Uttara his ten names among which "Krishna"
is one:
0040390083/.arjunah.phalguno.jiSNuh.kiriiTii.zveta.vaahanah./
0040390085/.biibhatsur.vijayah.kRSNah.savya.saacii.dhanamjayah.//

Uttara then asks arjuna why he is called by those ten names:

0040390091/.kena.asi.vijayas.naama.kena.asi.zveta.vaahanah./{uttara}
0040390093/.kiriiTii.naama.kena.asi.savya.saacii.katham.bhavaan.//
0040390101/.arjunah.phalguno.jiSNuh.kRSNas.biibhatsur.eva.ca./
0040390103/.dhanamjayaz.ca.kena.asi.prabruuhi.mama.tattvatah./
0040390105/.zrutaa.me.tasya.viirasya.kevalaa.naama.hetavah.//10
arjuna explains each of those ten names. Regarding Krishna, he says
that seeing his dark complexion, his father, pANDu, gave him that name, out
of affection. (kRSNa;ity.eva.dazamam.naama.cakre.pitaa.mama)

0040390111/.sarvaan.jana.padaan.jitvaa.vittam.aacchidya.kevalam./{Arj}
0040390113/.madhye.dhanasya.tiSThaami.tena.aahur.maam.dhanamjayam.//
0040390121/.abhiprayaami.samgraame.yad.aham.yuddha.durmadaa./
0040390123/.na.ajitvaa.vinivartaami.tena.maam.vijayam.viduh.//
0040390131/.zvetaah.kaancana.samnaahaa.rathe.yujyanti.me.hayaah./
0040390133/.samgraame.yudhyamaanasya.tena.aham.zveta.vaahanah.//
0040390141/.uttaraabhyaam.ca.puurvaabhyaam.phalguniibhyaam.aham.divaa./
0040390143/.jaato.himavatah.pRSThe.tena.maam.phalgunam.viduh.//
0040390151/.puraa.zakreNa.me.dattam.yudhyato.daanava.RSabhaih./
0040390153/.kiriiTam.muurdhni.suurya.aabham.tena.maa.aahuh.kiriiTinam.//
0040390161/.na.kuryaam.karma.biibhatsam.yudhyamaanah.kathamcana./
0040390163/.tena.deva.manuSyeSu.biibhatsur.iti.maam.viduh.//
0040390171/.ubhau.me.dakSiNau.paaNii.gaaNDiivasya.vikarSaNe./
0040390173/.tena.deva.manuSyeSu.savya.saacii.iti.maam.viduh.//
0040390181/.pRthivyaam.catur.antaayaam.varNas.me.durlabhah.samah./
0040390183/.karomi.karma.zulkam.ca.tena.maam.arjunam.viduh.//
0040390191/.aham.duraapo.durdharSo.damanah.paaka.zaasanih./
0040390193/.tena.deva.manuSyeSu.jiSNu.naamaa.asmi.vizrutah.//
0040390201/.kRSNa;ity.eva.dazamam.naama.cakre.pitaa.mama./
0040390203/.kRSNa.avadaatasya.satah.priyatvaad.baalakasya.vai.//20

(source: http://www.cc.kyoto-su.ac.jp/~yanom/sanskrit/mahabharata/m04.1_1.e)

Anand