Shloka 3

Śiśupāla-vadha in the Rājasūya-sabhā (शिशुपालवधः — राजसूयसभायाम्)

Devanagari script

अद्वारेण प्रविष्टेन छद्मना ब्रह्म॒वादिना | दृष्ट: प्रभाव: कृष्णेन जरासंधस्य भूपते:

Transliteration

advāreṇa praviṣṭena chadmanā brahmavādinā | dṛṣṭaḥ prabhāvaḥ kṛṣṇena jarāsaṃdhasya bhūpateḥ ||

Translation

“He entered the city not through a gate, but by breaking in; then, adopting a disguise and posing as a brahmin, he observed the might and standing of King Jarāsandha.”

Word by Word

• अद्वारेण: by/through a doorless (way), without a door
• अद्वारेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्वार
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रविष्टेन: having entered
• प्रविष्टेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रविष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• छद्मना: with disguise, by deceit
• छद्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: छद्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• ब्रह्मवादिना: as a brahmin-speaker/one professing Brahman (i.e., posing as a Brahmin)
• ब्रह्मवादिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मवादिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दृष्टः: was seen/observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृष्ट
• Form: Perfective (past participle)

• प्रभावः: might, power, influence
• प्रभावः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृष्णेन: by Krishna
• कृष्णेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• जरासंधस्य: of Jarasandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरासंध
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भूपतेः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपति
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

शिशुपाल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śiśupāla
• Kṛṣṇa
• Jarāsandha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic tension: political or strategic success achieved through disguise and covert entry can be criticized as ethically questionable, especially when judged against ideals of open, honorable conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śiśupāla accuses Kṛṣṇa of entering Jarāsandha’s city by an improper route and under a brahmin disguise, implying that Kṛṣṇa’s purpose was to assess Jarāsandha’s strength and influence through stealth rather than direct approach.