Shloka 3
Uddhava’s Counsel: The Jarāsandha Resolution and Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival at Indraprastha
यष्टव्यं राजसूयेन दिक्चक्रजयिना विभो । अतो जरासुतजय उभयार्थो मतो मम ॥ ३ ॥
yaṣṭavyam rājasūyena dik-cakra-jayinā vibho ato jarā-suta-jaya ubhayārtho mato mama
O almighty one, only he who has conquered opponents in every direction can perform the Rājasūya sacrifice. Therefore, in my opinion, defeating Jarāsandha will accomplish both aims.
Śrī Uddhava here explains that only one who has conquered all directions is entitled to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa should immediately accept the invitation to participate in the sacrifice, but then He should arrange to kill Jarāsandha as a necessary prerequisite. In this way the kings’ request for protection would be fulfilled automatically. If the Lord would thus adhere to a single policy — namely, seeing that the Rājasūya sacrifice was performed properly — all purposes would be fulfilled.
FAQs
This verse says the Rājasūya is to be performed by a ruler who has conquered all directions, and it highlights that removing obstacles like Jarāsandha is necessary for that qualification.
Uddhava explains that defeating Jarāsandha serves two aims at once: completing the required conquest for Yudhiṣṭhira’s imperial sacrifice and eliminating a major political and spiritual obstacle.
Set worthy goals, then identify the key obstacle whose removal advances multiple objectives—act with dharmic strategy rather than scattered effort.