Shloka 36
Jarāsandha as Obstacle to the Rājasūya — Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Genealogical Brief
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 13
भवतीति समाज्ञाय यत्नतः कार्यमुद्रहन् । स निश्चयार्थ कार्यस्य कृष्णमेव जनार्दनम्,तदनन्तर मनको वशमें रखनेवाले महाबुद्धिमान् राजा युधिष्लिरने सम्पूर्ण लोकोंके हितकी इच्छासे पुनः: इस विषयपर मन-ही-मन विचार किया--'जो बुद्धिमान् अपनी शक्ति और साधनोंको देखकर तथा देश, काल, आय और व्ययको बुद्धिके द्वारा भलीभाँति समझ करके कार्य आरम्भ करता है, वह कष्टमें नहीं पड़ता। केवल अपने ही निश्चयसे यज्ञका आरम्भ नहीं किया जाता।” ऐसा समझकर यत्नपूर्वक कार्यभार वहन करनेवाले युधिष्छिरने उस कार्यके विषयमें पूर्ण निश्चय करनेके लिये जनार्दन भगवान् श्रीकृष्णको ही सब लोगोंसे उत्तम माना और वे मन-ही-मन उन अप्रमेय महाबाहु श्रीहरिकी शरणमें गये, जो अजन्मा होते हुए भी धर्म एवं साधु पुरुषोंकी रक्षा आदिकी इच्छासे मनुष्यलोकमें अवतीर्ण हुए थे
bhavatīti samājñāya yatnataḥ kāryam udrahan | sa niścayārthaṃ kāryasya kṛṣṇam eva janārdanam | tad-anantaraṃ manako vaśaṃ meṃ rakhanevāle mahābuddhimān rājā yudhiṣṭhirane sampūrṇa lokõke hitakī icchāse punaḥ asmin viṣaye manaḥ-manaḥ vicāra kīyā— “yo buddhimān sva-śakti-sādhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā deśa-kāla-āya-vyayaṃ ca buddhyā bhūyaḥ samyak avagamya kāryam ārabhate sa kaṣṭe na patati | kevala-sva-niścayena yajñasya ārambho na kriyate” iti | evaṃ matvā yatnapūrvakaṃ kāryabhāraṃ vahann yudhiṣṭhiraḥ tasya kāryasya pūrṇa-niścayārthaṃ janārdanaṃ bhagavantaṃ śrīkṛṣṇam eva sarvebhyaḥ śreṣṭhaṃ mene, manaḥ-manaḥ ca tam aprameyaṃ mahābāhuṃ śrīhariṃ śaraṇaṃ jagāma, yo ’jano ’pi dharma-sādhu-rakṣaṇādi-icchayā manuṣyaloke ’vatīrṇaḥ
Vaiśampāyana said: Having understood the matter and taking up the burden of action with care, Yudhiṣṭhira sought firm certainty about what should be done and regarded Janārdana—Kṛṣṇa alone—as the best guide. Then the great-minded king, intent on the welfare of all worlds and restraining his own mind, reflected inwardly: “A wise man, after assessing his strength and resources and clearly grasping by reason the factors of place, time, income, and expenditure, begins an undertaking; such a man does not fall into distress. A sacrifice should not be commenced merely on the basis of one’s private resolve.” Thinking thus, and bearing the responsibility with diligence, Yudhiṣṭhira took refuge in the immeasurable, mighty-armed Śrī Hari—though unborn, he descends into the human world for the protection of dharma and the good.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Major undertakings—especially public religious acts like a yajña—should be initiated only after sober assessment of capacity and context (place, time, resources, costs). Personal enthusiasm alone is insufficient; wise action seeks sound counsel and aims at the welfare of all.
Yudhiṣṭhira, carrying the responsibility of a significant proposed action, reflects on practical and ethical prerequisites for beginning it. To reach a firm decision, he turns to Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana) as the सर्वोत्तम guide and inwardly takes refuge in him, who is portrayed as the divine protector of dharma.