Shloka 31

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya Resolve and the Slaying of Jarāsandha

Devanagari script

न त्वया भीरुणा योत्स्ये युधि विक्लवतेजसा । मथुरां स्वपुरीं त्यक्त्वा समुद्रं शरणं गत: ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

na tvayā bhīruṇā yotsye yudhi viklava-tejasā mathurāṁ sva-purīṁ tyaktvā samudraṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

Translation

„Doch mit Dir, o Kṛṣṇa, werde ich nicht kämpfen, denn Du bist ein Feigling. Mitten im Kampf verließ Dich Deine Kraft, und Du gabst Mathurā, Deine eigene Hauptstadt, auf und suchtest Zuflucht im Meer.“

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• bhīruṇā: (being) timid/cowardly
• bhīruṇā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; tvayā इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• yotsye: I will fight
• yotsye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; युद्धे इत्यर्थे

• viklava-tejasā: with faltering vigor/energy
• viklava-tejasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viklava (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भावे: ‘विक्लवं तेजः यस्य/विक्लवतेजस्’), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; tvayā इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• mathurām: Mathurā
• mathurām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mathurā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• sva-purīm: one’s own city
• sva-purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘स्वस्य पुरी’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; mathurām इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• tyaktvā: having abandoned
• tyaktvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘त्यज्’ धातोः; पूर्वक्रिया

• samudram: the sea
• samudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘शरणं’ (refuge)

• gataḥ: (he) has gone
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘gone/has gone’

Characters & Entities

• Jarāsandha
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

Why did Jarāsandha call Krishna a coward for leaving Mathura?

In this verse Jarāsandha mocks Kṛṣṇa for relocating from Mathurā to the sea-side fortress of Dvārakā, portraying it as fear, though the move was part of Kṛṣṇa’s larger divine strategy to protect His people and accomplish His mission.

Who is speaking in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.72.31 and to whom?

Jarāsandha speaks this verse to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, taunting Him and challenging His valor before battle.

What practical lesson does this shloka give for modern life?

Do not judge wise restraint as weakness—sometimes stepping back from conflict and choosing a safer, strategic course protects others and serves a higher purpose.