Shloka 19
Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ
Commencement of the Regulated Duel
मागधानां सुरुचिरं चैत्यकं त॑ समाद्रवन् । शिरसीव समाध्नन्तो जरासंधं जिघांसव:,इन तीनों वीरोंने उपर्युक्त तीनों नगाड़ोंको फोड़कर चैत्यक पर्वतके परकोटेपर आक्रमण किया। उन सबने अनेक प्रकारके आयुध लेकर द्वारके सामने मगध-निवासियोंके परम प्रिय उस चैत्यक पर्वतपर धावा किया था। जरासंधको मारनेकी इच्छा रखकर मानो वे उसके मस्तकपर आघात कर रहे थे
māgadhānāṃ suruciraṃ caityakaṃ taṃ samādravan | śirasīva samādhnanto jarāsaṃdhaṃ jighāṃsavaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Desiring to slay Jarāsandha, they rushed upon that splendid Caityaka—dear to the people of Magadha—assaulting it as though striking Jarāsandha upon the head itself.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse suggests an ethical framing of force: the heroes’ violence is purposeful and directed toward removing a harmful ruler (Jarāsandha), implying that confronting adharma in governance may demand courageous, decisive action rather than passive endurance.
The attackers rush upon the splendid Caityaka site, beloved by the Magadhas, and strike it as though striking Jarāsandha’s head—signaling that their true aim is Jarāsandha’s death and the overthrow of his power.