Shloka 186
Jarā’s Account and the Enthronement of Jarāsandha (जरासंधोत्पत्तिः अभिषेकश्च)
प्रियाभ्यामनुरूपाभ्यां करेणुभ्यामिव द्विप: । भरतकुलभूषण! महापराक्रमी राजा बृहद्रथने काशिराजकी दो जुड़वीं कन्याओंके साथ
priyābhyām anurūpābhyāṃ kareṇūbhyām iva dvipaḥ | bharatakula-bhūṣaṇa! mahāparākrāmī rājā bṛhadrathena kāśirājakī dve juḍavī kanyābhyāṃ saha, yā rūpa-sampattayā apūrva-śobhāṃ prāptavatyaḥ, vivāhaḥ kṛtaḥ; sa ca narāśreṣṭhaḥ ekānte svayoḥ patnyoḥ samīpe idaṃ pratijajñe—“ahaṃ yuvābhyāṃ saha kadācid api viṣama-vyavahāraṃ na kariṣyāmi” (arthāt ubhayor api prati samāna-rūpeṇa mama premabhāvaḥ bhaviṣyati) | yathā dve kareṇūbhyāṃ saha gajarājaḥ suśobhate, tathā sa mahārājaḥ bṛhadrathaḥ svamanānurūpābhyāṃ priyābhyāṃ saha śobhāṃ lebhe |
Kṛṣṇa sprach: „O Schmuck des Bharata-Geschlechts! Der hochmächtige König Bṛhadratha vermählte sich mit den beiden Zwillingstöchtern des Königs von Kāśī — Jungfrauen, deren Schönheit und Vorzüglichkeit in seltenem Glanz erstrahlten. Im Verborgenen gelobte jener Beste der Männer beiden Gemahlinnen: ‚Ich werde euch niemals ungleich behandeln; meine Zuneigung soll euch beiden in gleichem Maße gelten.‘ Und wie ein großer Elefant durch zwei passende Elefantenkühe geziert wird, so erschien König Bṛhadratha, mit den beiden geliebten, seinem Herzen gemäßen Königinnen, umso strahlender.“
कृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical kingship within household life: when one undertakes a relationship involving two spouses, dharma requires impartiality—no favoritism, no unequal treatment—grounded in a solemn vow and consistent affection.
Kṛṣṇa recounts how King Bṛhadratha married the twin daughters of the king of Kāśī and privately promised both wives equal love and equal conduct; the scene concludes with a simile comparing his enhanced splendor to an elephant adorned by two well-matched cow-elephants.