Shloka 7

Chapter 15: Counsel on Initiative vs. Renunciation in the Rajasuya Project (सभापर्व, अध्याय १५)

Devanagari script

वयं चैव महाभाग जरासंधभयात्‌ तदा । शड़किता: सम महाभाग दौरात्म्यात्‌ तस्य चानघ

Transliteration

vayaṃ caiva mahābhāga jarāsandha-bhayāt tadā | śaṅkitāḥ sma mahābhāga daurātmyāt tasya cānagha ||

Translation

„O erhabener, glückbegnadeter Fürst, auch wir lebten damals in steter Beklommenheit—sowohl aus Furcht vor Jarāsandha als auch wegen der schieren Bosheit seines Tuns. O Makelloser, seine Grausamkeit macht selbst die Starken vorsichtig; darum setze ich mein Vertrauen allein auf die Kraft deiner Arme, denn ohne deinen Beistand kann ich mich nicht für fähig halten, ihm standzuhalten.“

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'vayam', 'definition': 'we'}, {'term': 'caiva', 'definition': 'and indeed

• also'}, {'term': 'mahābhāga', 'definition': 'highly fortunate

• illustrious (vocative address)'}, {'term': 'jarāsandha', 'definition': 'Jarāsandha, king of Magadha'}, {'term': 'bhayāt', 'definition': 'from fear (ablative)'}, {'term': 'tadā', 'definition': 'then

• at that time'}, {'term': 'śaṅkitāḥ sma', 'definition': 'we were anxious/suspicious/apprehensive'}, {'term': 'daurātmyāt', 'definition': 'from wickedness/cruelty (ablative)

• from depravity'}, {'term': 'tasya', 'definition': 'of him

• his'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'anagha', 'definition': 'sinless

Speaker

युधिछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Jarāsandha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights prudent kingship: recognizing a tyrant’s danger is not cowardice but ethical realism. It also underscores the dharmic value of seeking rightful support—placing trust in a capable ally when confronting adharma-driven power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a noble, blameless figure and admits that he and his side have long been anxious due to Jarāsandha’s threat and cruelty. He frames Jarāsandha as dangerous not only for strength but for moral depravity, implying the need for strong assistance to face him.