Shloka 5
अर्जुनस्योत्तरदिग्विजयः
Arjuna’s Northern Conquests and Tribute Collection
(तवैष वध्यो दुर्बुद्धि: जरासंधो महारथ: । इत्यन्तरिक्षे त्वश्ौषं यदा वायुरपोह॒ते ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
tavaiṣa vadhyo durbuddhiḥ jarāsaṃdho mahārathaḥ |
ity antarīkṣe tv aśrauṣaṃ yadā vāyur apohate ||
gomante parvataśreṣṭhe yenaiṣa parimokṣitaḥ |
baladevabala-prāpto ko 'nyo jīvet māgadhāt ||
tad asya mṛtyur vihitaḥ tvadṛte na mahābala |
vāyuṃ cintya mahābāho jahīmāṃ magadhādhipam ||
evam uktas tadā bhīmo jarāsaṃdham ariṃdamaḥ |
utkṣipya bhrāmayām āsa balavantaṃ mahābalaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “This evil-minded Jarāsandha, a great chariot-warrior, can be slain only by you. I heard this proclamation in the sky at the time when the Wind-god was withdrawing (his support), when Balarāma was attempting to take Jarāsandha’s life. It was for this reason that, on the excellent mountain Gomanta, Balarāma let him go; for once Jarāsandha had come within Balarāma’s power, who else besides this Magadhan could have remained alive? Therefore his death is ordained—by none other than you, O mighty one. O strong-armed hero, meditate upon Vāyu and kill this lord of Magadha.” Thus addressed, Bhīma, the subduer of foes, seized the powerful Jarāsandha and began to whirl him with force.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames righteous violence as constrained by destiny and dharma: Jarāsandha’s end is portrayed as divinely ordained to occur only through Bhīma, and Bhīma is urged to align his action with Vāyu (his divine source of strength), emphasizing disciplined power rather than impulsive force.
Vaiśampāyana reports a heavenly declaration that only Bhīma can kill Jarāsandha. He explains why Balarāma earlier spared Jarāsandha at Gomanta, then instructs Bhīma to remember Vāyu and slay the Magadhan king. Bhīma responds immediately by lifting Jarāsandha and whirling him in combat.