Shloka 9

Jarāsandha-prastāvaḥ — Nīti-cintā ca Jarāsandhasya janma-vṛttāntaḥ

The Jarāsandha Prelude: Strategic Counsel and Birth Account

Devanagari script

कृतवीर्यकुले जातो निर्वीर्य: कि करिष्यति | निर्वीर्ये तु कुले जातो वीर्यवांस्तु विशिष्यते,महापराक्रमी राजा कृतवीर्यके कुलमें उत्पन्न होकर भी जो स्वयं निर्बल है, वह क्या करेगा? निर्बल कुलमें जन्म लेकर भी जो बलवान और पराक्रमी है, वही श्रेष्ठ है

Transliteration

kṛtavīryakule jāto nirvīryaḥ ki kariṣyati | nirvīrye tu kule jāto vīryavāṁs tu viśiṣyate ||

Translation

Arjuna sprach: Was vermag ein Mann, wenn er zwar im Geschlecht Kṛtavīryas geboren ist, selbst aber ohne Kraft und Tapferkeit bleibt? Doch selbst wenn einer in einer machtlosen Familie geboren wird, ragt der hervor, der wahre Stärke und heldische Energie besitzt — durch eigenes Verdienst.

Word by Word

कृतवीर्य-कुलेin the Kṛtavīrya family

जातःborn

निर्वीर्यःpowerless, without vigor

किम्what

करिष्यतिwill do

निर्वीर्येin a powerless (weak) (family)

तुbut, however

कुलेin a family

जातःborn

वीर्यवान्vigorous, possessing valor

तुindeed/but

विशिष्यतेis distinguished, excels

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Kṛtavīrya

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?

Nobility is not guaranteed by birth alone: lineage without personal strength and virtue is ineffective, while genuine valor and capability make a person eminent even if their family background is weak.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna comments on the contrast between inherited prestige and personal worth, using the example of being born in Kṛtavīrya’s famed line versus actually possessing vīrya (heroic power). The remark frames an ethical judgment about kingship and excellence based on merit.