Shloka 18

Devanagari script

तथा च बलवान्‌ राजा जरासंधो दुरासद: । समरे समरश्लाधिन्‌ न त्वया सदृशो5भवत्‌,'युद्धकी श्लाघा रखनेवाले वीर! यद्यपि राजा जरासंध दुर्जय एवं बलवान्‌ था, तथापि वह रणभूमिमें तुम्हारी समानता न कर सका

Transliteration

tathā ca balavān rājā jarāsandho durāsadaḥ | samare samarāślāghin na tvayā sadṛśo 'bhavat ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „Und wahrlich, obgleich König Jarāsandha mächtig und schwer zu bezwingen war, o Held, der sich des Kampfes rühmt, selbst er erwies sich dir auf dem Schlachtfeld nicht ebenbürtig.“

Word by Word

तथाthus, in that manner

चand

बलवान्strong, powerful

राजाking

जरासंधःJarasandha

दुरासदःhard to assail, unapproachable

समरेin battle

समरश्लाधिन्O one who glories in battle

नnot

त्वयाby you

सदृशःequal, similar

अभवत्was, became

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Jarāsandha

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores a classical epic ethic of measuring true prowess by deeds in battle rather than reputation: even a famed, formidable king like Jarāsandha is declared inferior when compared to the addressed warrior. It highlights how renown must be tested against actual conduct and capability in decisive moments.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, praises the addressed warrior’s battlefield superiority by invoking Jarāsandha as a benchmark of strength and difficulty to defeat, then stating that even Jarāsandha could not match him in war.