Shloka 153
Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)
स्नेहबद्धश्न मनसा पितृवद् भक्तिमांस्त्वयि । महाराज! जो मुर और नरक नामक देशका शासन करते हैं
snehabaddhaś ca manasā pitṛvad bhaktimāṁs tvayi | mahārāja! ye mura-naraka-nāmaka-deśasya śāsanaṁ kurvanti, yasyāḥ senā anantā, ye varuṇa-samāḥ paścima-diśaḥ adhipatayaḥ ucyante, ye vṛddhāvasthāṁ gatāḥ, ca ye tava pituḥ mitrāḥ, te yavanādhipati-rājā bhagadattaḥ api vācā kriyayā ca jarāsandhasya purataḥ viśeṣeṇa natamastakāḥ santi; tathāpi te manasā tvat-sneha-pāśe baddhāḥ, yathā pitā putre snehavān, tathā teṣāṁ tvayi vātsalya-bhāvaḥ vartate ||
Krishna said: “O great king, even Bhagadatta—the Yavana overlord who rules the lands called Mura and Naraka, whose forces are said to be countless, who is famed like Varuṇa as lord of the western quarter, now advanced in years and once a friend of your father—though he bows with word and deed before Jarāsandha, is inwardly bound by affection for you. In his heart he bears toward you the same tender, fatherly love that a sire holds for his son.”
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Krishna highlights the difference between outward political submission and inward loyalty: a ruler may bow publicly to a stronger power for pragmatic reasons, yet remain bound by genuine affection and dharmic ties (friendship with one’s father, paternal goodwill) toward another.
Krishna describes Bhagadatta’s position: although he appears compliant before Jarāsandha in speech and action, his heart is attached to the addressed king with fatherly tenderness, due to old friendship and longstanding bonds.