Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

बध्यमानं हतारातिं पाशैर्वारुणमानुषै: । वारयामास गोविन्दस्तेन कार्यचिकीर्षया ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

badhyamānaṁ hatārātiṁ pāśair vāruṇa-mānuṣaiḥ vārayām āsa govindas tena kārya-cikīrṣayā

Translation

Mit der göttlichen Schlinge Varunas und anderen, sterblichen Seilen begann Balarama, Jarasandha zu fesseln, der so viele Feinde getötet hatte. Aber Lord Govinda hatte noch einen Zweck durch Jarasandha zu erfüllen, und so bat Er Balarama, innezuhalten.

Synonyms

• badhyamānam: being bound
• badhyamānam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bandh (बन्ध् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), कर्मणि; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies jarāsandham (understood)

• hata-ārātim: slayer of enemies
• hata-ārātim: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata + ārāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हताः अरातयः येन = who has slain enemies)

• pāśaiḥ: with nooses/bonds
• pāśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental

• vāruṇa-mānuṣaiḥ: divine (Varuṇa’s) and human
• vāruṇa-mānuṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāruṇa + mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (vāruṇa + mānuṣa) qualifying pāśaiḥ

• vārayāmāsa: stopped, prevented
• vārayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vārayām āsa = √vṛ (वृ धातु, causative) + √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परिप्रयोगः: causative imperfect-like periphrastic perfect; ‘vārayām’ (णिच् causative stem) + ‘āsa’ (लिट्, 3rd sg); meaning ‘stopped/forbade’

• govindaḥ: Govinda (Kṛṣṇa)
• govindaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tena: therefore, by that (reason)
• tena: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental (‘by that/for that reason’)

• kārya-cikīrṣayā: with the intention of some purpose
• kārya-cikīrṣayā: Hetu (हेतु/Purpose-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya + cikīrṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कार्यं चिकीर्षा = desire to accomplish a purpose)

Purport

The word hatārātim means “who has killed his enemies,” or “through whom his enemies would be killed.” Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī has provided this thoughtful note.

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Jarāsandha

FAQs

Why did Krishna stop Jarasandha from being bound in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Because Krishna had a specific divine purpose to accomplish through Jarāsandha, so He restrained the attempt to bind him.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.50.31?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this event to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

What is a practical lesson from Krishna sparing an enemy like Jarasandha?

Act with discernment: even when you can defeat someone, sometimes restraint and a higher purpose lead to the best outcome.