Shloka 20
Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat
श्रीशुक उवाच जरासुतस्तावभिसृत्य माधवौ महाबलौघेन बलीयसावृणोत् । ससैन्ययानध्वजवाजिसारथी सूर्यानलौ वायुरिवाभ्ररेणुभि: ॥ २० ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca jarā-sutas tāv abhisṛtya mādhavau mahā-balaughena balīyasāvṛnot sa-sainya-yāna-dhvaja-vāji-sārathī sūryānalau vāyur ivābhra-reṇubhiḥ
Śukadeva Gosvāmī sprach: Der Sohn der Jarā rückte mit einer gewaltigen Heeresmacht gegen die beiden Nachkommen Madhus vor und umzingelte Sie samt ihren Soldaten, Wagen, Bannern, Pferden und Wagenlenkern. Wie der Wind die Sonne mit Wolken oder ein Feuer mit Staub bedeckt, so verhüllte er sie.
Ācārya Śrīdhara points out that clouds only seem to cover the sun: the sun remains shining in the vast sky. Nor is the potency of fire affected by a thin covering of dust. Similarly, the “covering” of Jarāsandha’s military strength was only apparent.
FAQs
It describes Jarāsandha’s son (Kālayavana) rushing toward Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and surrounding Them with a huge, powerful military force, compared to wind covering the sun and fire with clouds and dust.
“Mādhava” is a name of the Lord connected with Lakṣmī (Mā) and the Madhu dynasty; here it poetically refers to the divine brothers Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as the supreme protectors of the Yadus.
Even when difficulties surround us like dust and clouds, the Bhagavatam reminds devotees to keep faith in the Lord’s protection and guidance, trusting that divine intelligence can dispel what seems impossible to overcome.