Shloka 62
Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)
(दुर्योधनं शान्तनवं द्रोणं द्रौणायनिं कृपम् कर्ण च शिशुपालं च रुक्मिणं च धनुर्धरम् ।। एकलयं द्रुमं श्वेतं शैब्यं शकुनिमेव च । एतानजित्वा संग्रामे कथं शक््नोषि त॑ क्रतुम् ।। अथैते गौरवेणैव न योत्स्यन्ति नराधिपा: ।) दुर्योधन, भीष्म, द्रोण, अश्वत्थामा, कृपाचार्य, कर्ण, शिशुपाल, रुक्मी, धनुर्थर एकलव्य, ट्रुम, श्वेत, शैब्य तथा शकुनि--इन सब वीरोंको संग्राममें जीते बिना आप कैसे वह यज्ञ कर सकते हैं? परंतु ये नरश्रेष्ठ आपका गौरव मानकर युद्ध नहीं करेंगे। न तु शक््यं जरासंधे जीवमाने महाबले । राजसूयस्त्वयावाप्तुमेषा राजन् मतिर्मम,किंतु राजन्! मेरी सम्मति यह है कि जबतक महाबली जरासंध जीवित है, तबतक आप राजसूययज्ञ पूर्ण नहीं कर सकते
duryodhanaṁ śāntanavaṁ droṇaṁ drauṇāyaniṁ kṛpam karṇaṁ ca śiśupālaṁ ca rukmiṇaṁ ca dhanurdharam || ekalavyaṁ drumaṁ śvetaṁ śaibyaṁ śakunim eva ca | etān ajitvā saṅgrāme kathaṁ śaknoṣi taṁ kratum || athaite gauraveṇaiva na yotsyanti narādhipāḥ | na tu śakyaṁ jarāsandhe jīvamāne mahābale | rājasūyas tvayāvāptum eṣā rājan matir mama ||
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “Duryodhana, Bhīṣma (the son of Śāntanu), Droṇa, Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa, Karṇa, and also Śiśupāla; and Rukmī the archer; Ekalavya, Druma, Śveta, Śaibya, and Śakuni—without defeating these heroes in battle, how could you accomplish that sacrifice? Yet those kings, out of regard for your eminence, will not fight you. But, O king, so long as the mighty Jarāsandha lives, it is not possible for you to attain the Rājasūya; this is my considered judgment.”
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kṛṣṇa frames kingship and ritual success as dependent on real political conditions: a ruler should not pursue a sovereignty-claiming rite like the Rājasūya while a dominant rival (Jarāsandha) remains unconfronted; ethical governance requires clear-eyed strategy rather than mere ceremonial ambition.
As plans for the Rājasūya are discussed, Kṛṣṇa enumerates formidable warriors and notes that many would not oppose the king out of respect; nevertheless, he identifies Jarāsandha as the decisive impediment—until Jarāsandha is removed, the Rājasūya cannot be successfully completed.