Shloka 31
Jarā’s Account and the Enthronement of Jarāsandha (जरासंधोत्पत्तिः अभिषेकश्च)
(एष ते तनयो राजन् मा तप्सीस्त्वं तपो वने । प्रजा: पालय धर्मेण एष धर्मो महीक्षिताम् ।।
eṣa te tanayo rājan mā tapsīstvaṃ tapo vane | prajāḥ pālaya dharmeṇa eṣa dharmo mahīkṣitām ||
yajasva vividhairyajñairindraṃ tarpaya cendunā | putraṃ rājye pratiṣṭhāpya tata āśramamāvraja ||
aṣṭau varān prayacchāmi tava putrasya pārthiva | brahmaṇyatāmaje yatvaṃ yuddheṣu ca tathā ratim ||
priyātitheyatāṃ caiva dīnānāmanvavekṣaṇam | tathā balaṃ ca sumahalloke kīrtiṃ ca śāśvatīm ||
anurāgaṃ prajānāṃ ca dadau tasmai sa kauśikaḥ |
etacchrutvā munervākyaṃ śirasā praṇipatya ca | muneḥ pādau mahāprājñaḥ sa nṛpaḥ svagṛhaṃ gataḥ ||
“This shall be your son, O king. Do not grieve, and do not go to the forest to practice austerities. Protect your subjects in accordance with dharma—this is the dharma of kings. Perform sacrifices of many kinds; satisfy Indra with the Soma. Then, having established your son upon the throne, withdraw to the stage of forest-dwelling. O ruler, I grant eight boons for your son: devotion to Brahmins and sacred learning; invincibility in battles and an unfailing delight in martial duty; love of honoring guests; constant regard for the poor and afflicted; great strength; enduring fame in the world; and abiding affection for the people.” Having heard the sage’s words, the wise king bowed his head at the sage’s feet and returned to his home.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s primary austerity is not forest-penance but righteous governance: protecting subjects according to dharma. After securing succession and fulfilling sacrificial duties, the ruler may withdraw to the forest-stage (vānaprastha).
A sage (Kauśika) reassures King Bṛhadratha that he will have a son, instructs him to perform sacrifices and later retire after enthroning the heir, and grants eight boons describing the future prince’s virtues. The king bows to the sage and returns home.