Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

योजनान्ते शतद्वारं वीरविक्रमतोरणम्‌ | अष्टादशावरै्नद्ध क्षत्रियैर्युद्धदुर्मदै:

Transliteration

yojanānte śatadvāraṁ vīravikramatoraṇam | aṣṭādaśāvarair naddhaṁ kṣatriyair yuddhadurmadāḥ ||

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “At the end of each yojana stands a hundred-gated stronghold, its archway fashioned from the very valor and prowess of heroes. It is secured by eighteen Yādava kṣatriyas, intoxicated with the ardor of battle.”

Word by Word

• योजनान्ते: at the end of a yojana (distance-interval)
• योजनान्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजनान्त
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शतद्वारम्: having a hundred gates
• शतद्वारम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शतद्वार
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वीरविक्रमतोरणम्: whose arch/gateway is (made of) heroes' prowess
• वीरविक्रमतोरणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरविक्रमतोरण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अष्टादश: by eighteen
• अष्टादश: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अवरैः: excellent/choice (lit. 'not inferior')
• अवरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विनद्धम्: bound/secured/fortified
• विनद्धम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नह्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• क्षत्रियैः: by Kshatriyas (warriors)
• क्षत्रियैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• युद्धदुर्मदैः: maddened by battle (battle-frenzied)
• युद्धदुर्मदैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्धदुर्मद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Yādava kṣatriyas (eighteen guards/protectors)
• Fort/stronghold (durga implied)
• Hundred gates (śatadvāra)
• Gateway/arch (toraṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates disciplined martial readiness as a facet of kṣatriya-dharma: a realm’s true ‘gate’ is not merely masonry but the courage, training, and coordinated protection provided by capable warriors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa is describing a heavily secured stronghold: at each yojana-interval there are many gates, and the fortification is effectively maintained by eighteen battle-fervent Yādava kṣatriyas, emphasizing both physical defenses and human valor.