Shloka 13
Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ
Commencement of the Regulated Duel
वार्ष्णेय: पाण्डवौ चैव प्रतस्थुर्मागधं पुरम् । हृष्टपुष्टजनोपेतं चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाकुलम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! ऐसी बातें करते हुए वे सभी महातेजस्वी भाई श्रीकृष्ण, अर्जुन और भीमसेन मगधकी राजधानीमें प्रवेश करनेके लिये चल पड़े। वह नगर चारों वर्णोके लोगोंसे भरा-पूरा था। उसमें रहनेवाले सभी लोग हृष्ट-पुष्ट दिखायी देते थे
vārṣṇeyaḥ pāṇḍavau caiva pratasthur māgadhaṃ puram | hṛṣṭa-puṣṭa-janopetaṃ cāturvarṇya-samākulam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “The Vārṣṇeya (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) and the two Pāṇḍavas set out for the city of Magadha. That capital was filled with cheerful, well-nourished people and thronged with all four social orders.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical-political backdrop: a thriving city with a functioning social order. It implies that the pursuit of power or justice (dharma) occurs amid real communities whose welfare matters; righteous action should be mindful of societal stability and prosperity.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Vārṣṇeya) and two Pāṇḍavas depart for and enter the Magadhan capital, described as populous and prosperous, setting the scene for the ensuing encounter in Magadha (connected with the Jarāsandha narrative in Sabha Parva).