Shloka 13

Chapter 54

Devanagari script

शौरेः सप्तदशाहं वै संयुगानि पराजितः ।

त्रयोविंशतिभिः सैन्यैर् जिग्ये एकम् अहं परम् ॥

Transliteration

śaureḥ sapta-daśāhaṃ vai saṃyugāni parājitaḥ / trayo-viṃśatibhiḥ sainyair jigye ekam ahaṃ param //

Translation

For seventeen days I was repeatedly defeated in battle by Śauri (Śrī Kṛṣṇa). Yet with twenty-three military divisions I conquered him once—only that single time.

Synonyms

• शौरेः: of Śauri (Kṛṣṇa)
• शौरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive singular: “of Śauri”)

• सप्तदश-अहम्: for seventeen days
• सप्तदश-अहम्: Karma (कर्म/object; extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तदश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (acc. sg. duration: “seventeen days”)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक (emphatic particle: “indeed”)

• संयुगानि: battles
• संयुगानि: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्मपद (acc. pl.)

• पराजितः: defeated
• पराजितः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective of ‘I’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराजि (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे विशेषण (masc. nom. sg.: “defeated”)

• त्रयोविंशतिभिः: with twenty-three
• त्रयोविंशतिभिः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोविंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्दः), तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण/सह (instrumental plural: “with/by twenty-three”)

• सैन्यैः: armies
• सैन्यैः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण/सह (instr. pl.)

• जिग्ये: conquered
• जिग्ये: Kriya (क्रिया/verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc. sg.)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परम्: the supreme (one)
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc. sg.; “supreme/other”)

Purport

This verse reveals the inner voice of Jarāsandha, whose pride rests not on truth but on selective memory. Though he suffered defeat again and again at the hands of Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Śauri), he clings to the solitary occasion when he could claim a ‘victory,’ and even that required overwhelming force. The Bhagavatam thus exposes how material ego reframes reality to protect itself. Devotionally, the statement highlights Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy in līlā: the Lord may allow an apparent reversal for His own purpose—protecting devotees, arranging future pastimes, or setting the stage for dharma’s restoration. The devotee learns not to measure the Lord by temporary worldly outcomes. In Kṛṣṇa-līlā, ‘defeat’ and ‘victory’ are subordinate to His intent, while the conditioned soul’s boasting only deepens bondage.

Characters & Entities

• Śauri (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Jarāsandha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pride after repeated defeat?

This verse shows how pride clings to a single ‘success’ while ignoring repeated failures, illustrating the delusion of ego when facing the Lord’s superior power.

Why does Jarāsandha claim he conquered Krishna once?

Jarāsandha boasts of one exceptional battle outcome—achieved with massive forces—revealing his need to preserve prestige despite being consistently defeated by Śauri.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Don’t build identity on selective memories of success; cultivate humility, accept reality, and align effort with dharma rather than ego.