Shloka 19

Chapter 15: Counsel on Initiative vs. Renunciation in the Rajasuya Project (सभापर्व, अध्याय १५)

Devanagari script

रत्नभाजो हि राजानो जरासंधमुपासते । न च तुष्यति तेनापि बाल्यादनयमास्थित:

Transliteration

ratnabhājo hi rājāno jarāsandham upāsate | na ca tuṣyati tenāpi bālyād anayam āsthitaḥ ||

Translation

Kings who possess and distribute treasures pay homage to Jarāsandha with gifts; yet he is not satisfied even by that. From childish folly he has taken refuge in unrighteousness, and instead of being content he continues to oppress them.

Word by Word

• रत्नभाजः: sharing/possessing jewels; wealthy
• रत्नभाजः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्नभाज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जरासन्धम्: Jarasandha
• जरासन्धम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरासन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उपासते: worship/serve, pay court to
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तुष्यति: is satisfied
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तेन: by that; by him/it
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अपि: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• बाल्यात्: from childhood
• बाल्यात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• अनयम्: wrong course; injustice
• अनयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आस्थितः: having resorted to; having adopted
• आस्थितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, active sense here), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

कृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Jarāsandha
• rājānaḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Material offerings and political submission do not reform an unjust ruler; when a person has embraced anaya (unrighteousness) out of moral immaturity, he remains unsatisfied and turns power into oppression. The verse highlights the ethical failure of greed and adharma in kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa describes how many kings, even wealthy ones, try to appease Jarāsandha by paying court and giving treasures. Despite receiving such tribute, Jarāsandha is not content and continues to act unjustly, indicating his tyrannical nature and the political pressure he exerts over other rulers.