Shloka 3
Jarāsandha-prastāvaḥ — Nīti-cintā ca Jarāsandhasya janma-vṛttāntaḥ
The Jarāsandha Prelude: Strategic Counsel and Birth Account
जरासंधबल प्राप्य दुष्पारं भीमविक्रमम् । यमो<पि न विजेता55जौ तत्र वः कि विचेष्टितम्,जरासंधकी सेनाका पार पाना कठिन है। उसका पराक्रम भयानक है। युद्धमें उस सेनाका सामना करके यमराज भी विजयी नहीं हो सकते, फिर वहाँ आपलोगोंका प्रयत्न क्या कर सकता है?
Jarāsandha-balaṁ prāpya duṣpāraṁ bhīma-vikramam | yamo 'pi na vijetā syāt tatra vaḥ kiṁ viceṣṭitam ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Jarāsandhas Heeresmacht zu begegnen—eine schwer zu überwindende Schranke, furchtbar an Tapferkeit—dort könnte selbst Yama nicht siegen. Was also vermöchte euer Einsatz in solcher Lage?“
युधिषछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent judgment in dharma-based leadership: one should realistically assess an opponent’s power and the limits of one’s means, avoiding reckless action driven by impulse or pride.
Yudhiṣṭhira cautions his companions about the daunting power of Jarāsandha, arguing that if even Yama is imagined as unable to prevail, then their ordinary efforts seem futile—setting the stage for careful strategy rather than direct confrontation.