Shloka 14

Mucukunda’s Departure; Jarāsandha’s Pursuit; Prelude to Rukmiṇī’s Abduction

Rukmiṇī’s Message Begins

Devanagari script

सोऽपि दग्धाविति मृषा मन्वानो बलकेशवौ । बलमाकृष्य सुमहन्मगधान् मागधो ययौ ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

so ’pi dagdhāv iti mṛṣā manvāno bala-keśavau balam ākṛṣya su-mahan magadhān māgadho yayau

Translation

Jarāsandha of Magadha mistakenly thought that Balarāma and Keśava had been burned to death in the fire; thus he withdrew his vast army and returned to the kingdom of Magadha.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• दग्धौ: burnt (the two)
• दग्धौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दह् (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘दग्ध’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति सूचक (quotative)

• मृषा: falsely
• मृषा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृषा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘falsely’

• मन्वानः: thinking
• मन्वानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/आन) आत्मनेपदी; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘thinking/supposing’

• बल-केशवौ: Balarāma and Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)
• बल-केशवौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• बलम्: the army/force
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आकृष्य: having mustered/drawn (together)
• आकृष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having drawn/pulled together’

• सु-महत्: very great
• सु-महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सु + महत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with बलम्

• मगधान्: the Magadhas (men of Magadha)
• मगधान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मगध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• मागधः: the king of Magadha (Jarāsandha)
• मागधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मागध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Balarāma
• Kṛṣṇa (Keśava)
• Jarāsandha (King of Magadha)

FAQs

Why did Jarāsandha think Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were burned to ashes in Bhagavatam 10.52?

Because he was mistaken by appearances and circumstance—he assumed they had perished, but the Lord’s līlā and protection made his conclusion false.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.52.14?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

What is the practical lesson from Jarāsandha’s delusion in this shloka?

Do not rely on surface appearances or prideful certainty; in devotion, remember that the Lord’s plans and protection often surpass ordinary calculation.