Shloka 70
Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)
(जरासंधवधोपायद्रिन्त्यतां भरतर्षभ । तस्मिन् जिते जितं सर्व सकल पार्थिवं बलम् ।।
śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | jarāsandha-vadhopāyaḥ cintyatāṃ bharatarṣabha | tasmin jite jitaṃ sarvaṃ sakalaṃ pārthivaṃ balam || ityeṣā me matī rājan yathā vā manyase 'nagha | evaṃgate mamācakṣva svayaṃ niścitya hetubhiḥ ||
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “O bull among the Bharatas, consider the means for slaying Jarāsandha. When he is conquered, all the strength of the earthly kings will be as good as conquered. This is my counsel, O king; yet do as you judge best, blameless one. In this situation, decide for yourself on the basis of reasons and sound arguments, and then tell me your settled conclusion.”
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kṛṣṇa models prudent kingship: identify the central source of oppression and address it with a well-considered strategy, while grounding action in reasoned deliberation. He also respects the king’s agency—offering counsel without coercion—highlighting ethical leadership and responsible decision-making.
In the Sabha Parva context of planning major royal action (notably the path toward imperial recognition), Kṛṣṇa advises the king that Jarāsandha is the key obstacle because many kings are bound under his dominance. If Jarāsandha is defeated, the subjugated rulers’ collective power will effectively be neutralized, enabling the broader political aim.