Shloka 25
Jarāsandha-nipātana, rāja-mokṣa, and rājasūya-sāhāyya-prārthanā
Jarāsandha’s fall, liberation of kings, and request for support
युयुक्षमाणास्त्वत्तो हि न वयं ब्राह्माणा ध्रुवम् । शौरिरस्मि हृषीकेशो नृवीरी पाण्डवाविमौ । अनयोर्मातुलेयं च कृष्णं मां विद्धि ते रिपुम्,तुमसे युद्धकी इच्छा रखनेवाले हमलोग अवश्य ही ब्राह्मण नहीं हैं। मैं वसुदेवपुत्र हृषीकेश हूँ और ये दोनों पाण्डुपुत्र वीरवर भीमसेन और अर्जुन हैं। मैं इन दोनोंके मामाका पुत्र और तुम्हारा प्रसिद्ध शत्रु श्रीकृष्ण हूँ। मुझे अच्छी तरह पहचान लो
yuyukṣamāṇās tvatto hi na vayaṁ brāhmaṇā dhruvam | śaurir asmi hṛṣīkeśo nṛvīrī pāṇḍavāv imau | anayoḥ mātuleyaṁ ca kṛṣṇaṁ māṁ viddhi te ripum |
“Since we have come here intent on battle, we are certainly not Brahmins. I am Śauri, Hṛṣīkeśa; and these two are the heroic Pāṇḍava brothers. Know me well as Kṛṣṇa—maternal cousin to these two—and as your renowned enemy.”
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores role-based dharma: those who enter a confrontation with the intent to fight are acting in a kṣatriya mode, not in a brāhmaṇa mode of restraint. It also emphasizes ethical clarity in conflict—openly declaring identity and intent rather than hiding behind ambiguity.
Kṛṣṇa identifies himself and his companions to the opposing side: he declares that they have come prepared for battle, names his own epithets (Śauri, Hṛṣīkeśa), points out the two valiant Pāṇḍavas with him, and states his kinship to them while also affirming that he is the opponent’s well-known enemy.