Shloka 32
Jarāsandha as Obstacle to the Rājasūya — Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Genealogical Brief
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 13
अहतस्त्वमसि धर्मज्ञ राजसूयं महाक्रतुम् अथैवमुक्ते नृपतावृत्विग्भिऋ्रषिभिस्तथा
ahatastvam asi dharmajña rājasūyaṃ mahākratum | athaivam ukte nṛpatau ṛtvigbhir ṛṣibhis tathā ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O Kenner des Dharma, du bist unversehrt und ungeschlagen; darum vollziehe das Rājasūya, jenes große königliche Opfer.“ Als dies dem König gesagt wurde, stimmten auch die Opferpriester und die Rishis zu und sprachen zur Unterstützung.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links political authority to dharma and ritual legitimacy: a king who is ‘unharmed/undefeated’ and guided by dharma is urged to undertake the Rājasūya, a public act that formalizes sovereignty with the sanction of priests and sages.
A counsel is delivered to the king—addressed as a knower of dharma—to proceed with the great Rājasūya sacrifice. After these words are spoken, the assembled officiating priests and sages also concur, reinforcing the recommendation.