Shloka 24

Jarāsandha–Vāsudeva Saṃvāda: Kṣātra-Dharma, Pride, and the Ethics of Coercion

Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 20

Devanagari script

हतं मेने जरासंध॑ दृष्टवा भीमपुरोगमौ । एककार्यसमुद्यन्तौ कृष्णौ युद्धेडधपराजितौ

Transliteration

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | hataṃ mene jarāsaṃdhaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmapurogamau | ekakāryasamudyantau kṛṣṇau yuddhe 'dhaparājitau |

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Seeing the two Kṛṣṇas—ever unconquered in battle—setting out with a single purpose and advancing with Bhīma in the lead, Yudhiṣṭhira became convinced that Jarāsandha was as good as slain. Their united resolve for a righteous end shone forth with formidable energy, kindled by just anger against Jarāsandha and directed toward the liberation of their kinsmen.

Word by Word

• हतम्: slain (as object: 'slain')
• हतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मेने: thought/considered
• मेने: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular

• जरासन्धः: Jarasandha
• जरासन्धः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरासन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा)

• भीमपुरोगमौ: the two who had Bhima in front (led by Bhima)
• भीमपुरोगमौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीमपुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• एककार्यसमुद्यन्तौ: the two striving for a single task
• एककार्यसमुद्यन्तौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एककार्यसमुद्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• कृष्णौ: the two Krishnas (Krishna and Arjuna)
• कृष्णौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कदापि: ever/at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदापि (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable

• अपराजितौ: unconquered/never defeated
• अपराजितौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Jarāsandha
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When righteous purpose is unified and led with courage, even a seemingly invincible oppressor becomes effectively defeated; dharmic resolve, not mere force, is presented as the decisive power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira sees Bhīma going ahead with Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, both famed as unconquered warriors, all committed to one mission against Jarāsandha; from this he concludes that Jarāsandha’s death is certain.