Shloka 48
Jarā’s Account and the Enthronement of Jarāsandha (जरासंधोत्पत्तिः अभिषेकश्च)
सा तं बालमुपादाय मेघलेखेव भास्करम् । कृत्वा च मानुषं रूपमुवाच वसुधाधिपम्,ऐसा विचारकर उस राक्षसीने मानवीका रूप धारण किया और जैसे मेघमाला सूर्यको धारण करे, उसी प्रकार वह उस बालकको गोदमें उठाकर भूपालसे बोली
sā taṃ bālam upādāya meghalekheva bhāskaram | kṛtvā ca mānuṣaṃ rūpam uvāca vasudhādhipam ||
وبعد أن استقرّ رأيها، حملت الرّاكشسي الطفل بين ذراعيها—كأن سحابةً تلتفّ حول الشمس—ثم اتخذت هيئةً بشرية وخاطبت سيّد الأرض، الملك.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral risk of judging by appearances: a being of harmful nature can adopt a pleasing human guise to gain access to authority. It implicitly urges vigilance and discernment in governance and ethical decision-making, especially when the vulnerable (a child) are involved.
A rākṣasī lifts a child into her lap/arms, then disguises herself in human form and speaks to the king. The simile compares her holding the child to clouds covering the sun, suggesting concealment and ominous intent beneath an outwardly ordinary appearance.