Shloka 49

Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)

Devanagari script

पलायामो भयात्‌ तस्य ससुतज्ञातिबान्धवा: । इति संचिन्त्य सर्वे सम प्रतीचीं दिशमाश्रिता:

Transliteration

palāyāmo bhayāt tasya sa-suta-jñāti-bāndhavāḥ | iti saṃcintya sarve sma pratīcīṃ diśam āśritāḥ ||

Translation

‘Let us flee from fear of him, taking with us our sons, kinsmen, and allies; let us divide this vast wealth into separate portions and carry it away little by little.’ Having thus resolved together, we all sought refuge by turning toward the western direction, O King.

Word by Word

• पलायामः: flight, running away
• पलायामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• तस्य: of him/that (enemy)
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• स: together with
• स: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थक अव्यय)

• सुत: with sons
• सुत: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ज्ञाति: with kinsmen
• ज्ञाति: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• बान्धवाः: relatives, friends
• बान्धवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• इति: thus (quotative)
• इति: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• संचिन्त्य: having reflected/considered
• संचिन्त्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सम्: together, completely
• सम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• प्रतीचीम्: western
• प्रतीचीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतीची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आश्रिताः: having taken refuge/resorted to
• आश्रिताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• rājan (the King addressed)
• sons (suta)
• kinsmen (jñāti)
• relations/allies (bāndhava)
• the enemy (tasya)
• the western direction (pratīcī diś)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When faced with overwhelming danger, safeguarding dependents and preserving life can be a legitimate strategic choice; prudence (nīti) may require retreat and careful management of resources rather than reckless confrontation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa recounts a collective decision: fearing an adversary, they plan to divide and carry away wealth in small portions and flee with sons and relatives, then they head toward the western direction for safety.