Shloka 8
अर्जुनस्योत्तरदिग्विजयः
Arjuna’s Northern Conquests and Tribute Collection
(पुन: संधाय तु तदा जरासंध: प्रतापवान् ।।
punar sandhāya tu tadā jarāsandhaḥ pratāpavān | bhīmena ca samāgamya bāhuyuddhaṃ cakāra ha || tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam | sarvalokakṣayakaraṃ sarvabhūtabhayāvaham || punaḥ kṛṣṇas tamiriṇaṃ dvidhā vicchidya mādhavaḥ | vyatyasya prākṣipat tat tu jarāsandhavadhepsayā || bhīmasenas tadā jñātvā nirbibheda ca māgadhām | dvidhā vyatyasya pādena prākṣipac ca nanāda ha ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then the mighty Jarāsandha, having once again rejoined his body, closed with Bhīma and fought him in a grapple of sheer arms. Between those two heroes arose a tumultuous, hair-raising combat—so dreadful it seemed able to destroy the whole world and struck fear into all beings. At that moment Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava), seeking Jarāsandha’s death, again split a reed in two and cast the pieces in opposite directions, repeating the sign. Understanding it, Bhīmasena tore the king of Magadha into two and, with his foot, flung the halves apart, roaring aloud.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power alone is not sufficient; right action in a complex moral situation often requires discernment and guidance. Kṛṣṇa’s nonverbal signal shows how intelligence and timely counsel can align strength (Bhīma) with a dharmic objective—ending a dangerous oppressor—while minimizing the chance of failure.
Jarāsandha, who can rejoin his body after being split, resumes a fierce arm-to-arm fight with Bhīma. Kṛṣṇa signals the correct method to kill him by splitting a reed and throwing the halves apart. Bhīma understands, tears Jarāsandha into two, and throws the halves in opposite directions so they cannot reunite.