Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 41

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

Devanagari script

एवं सप्तदशकृत्वस्तावत्यक्षौहिणीबल: । युयुधे मागधो राजा यदुभि: कृष्णपालितै: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ saptadaśa-kṛtvas tāvaty akṣauhiṇī-balaḥ yuyudhe māgadho rājā yadubhiḥ kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ

Translation

Seventeen times the King of Magadha met defeat in this very way. And yet throughout these defeats he fought on with his akṣauhiṇī divisions against the forces of the Yadu dynasty who were protected by Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• saptadaśa-kṛtvaḥ: seventeen times
• saptadaśa-kṛtvaḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saptadaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + kṛtvas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; आवृत्ति-वाचक अव्यय (times)

• tāvat: so much / to that extent
• tāvat: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक (so much/so long)

• akṣauhiṇī-balaḥ: (with) an army of akṣauhiṇīs / vast force
• akṣauhiṇī-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣauhiṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (akṣauhiṇyāḥ balam)

• yuyudhe: fought
• yuyudhe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• māgadhaḥ: the Magadhan (king)
• māgadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māgadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (apposition to māgadhaḥ)

• yadubhiḥ: by the Yadus
• yadubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ: protected by Krishna
• kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pālita (कृदन्त; √pāl, धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थः (kṛṣṇena pālitāḥ) (qualifying yadubhiḥ)

Characters & Entities

• Jarāsandha
• Kṛṣṇa
• Yadus

FAQs

How many times did Jarāsandha attack the Yadus according to Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse states that the King of Magadha fought the Yadus seventeen times.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.50.41?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while describing Jarāsandha’s repeated assaults and Kṛṣṇa’s protection of the Yadus.

What is the practical lesson from Krishna protecting the Yadus despite repeated attacks?

Steady remembrance of divine protection cultivates courage and perseverance—setbacks may repeat, but disciplined faith and right action prevent fear from ruling the mind.