Shloka 81
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 47 — Arjuna’s Deterrent Declaration
Sañjaya’s Report
“असुरोंका प्राग्ज्योतिषपुर नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक भयंकर किला था, जो शत्रुओंके लिये सर्वथा अजेय था। वहाँ भूमिपुत्र महाबली नरकासुर निवास करता था, जिसने देवमाता अदितिके सुन्दर मणिमय कुण्डल हर लिये थे ।। नतं देवा: सह शक्रेण शेकुः समागता युधि मृत्योरभीता: । दृष्टवा च तं विक्रमं केशवस्य बल॑ तथैवास्त्रमवारणीयम्,“मृत्युके भयसे रहित देवता इन्द्रके साथ उसका सामना करनेके लिये आये, परंतु नरकासुरको युद्धमें पराजित न कर सके। तब देवताओंने भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके अनिवार्य बल, पराक्रम और अस्त्रको देखकर तथा इनकी दयालु एवं दुष्टदमनकारिणी प्रकृतिको जानकर इन्हींसे पूर्वोक्त डाकू नरकासुरका वध करनेकी प्रार्थना की, तब समस्त कार्योंकी सिद्धिमें समर्थ भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने वह दुष्कर कार्य पूर्ण करना स्वीकार किया
sañjaya uvāca | asurāṇāṃ prāgjyotiṣapuraṃ nāma prasiddhaṃ bhayaṅkaraṃ kila durgaṃ āsīt, yat śatrūṇāṃ sarvathā ajeyam āsīt | tatra bhūmiputraḥ mahābalī narakāsuraḥ nivāsam akarot, yena devamātur aditeḥ sundare maṇimaye kuṇḍale apahṛte | na taṃ devāḥ saha śakreṇa śekuḥ samāgatā yudhi mṛtyor abhītāḥ | dṛṣṭvā ca taṃ vikramaṃ keśavasya balaṃ tathaivāstram avāraṇīyam, dayāluṃ ca duṣṭadamanakāriṇīṃ ca tasya prakṛtiṃ jñātvā, tenaiva pūrvoktasya taskarasya narakāsurasya vadhaṃ prārthayām āsuḥ | tataḥ sarvakāryasiddhau samarthaḥ bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇaḥ tad duṣkaraṃ karma paripūrayituṃ pratijagrāha |
Sañjaya said: There was a dreadful fortress of the Asuras, famed by the name Prāgjyotiṣa, utterly unconquerable to enemies. There dwelt the earth-born, mighty Narakāsura, who had stolen the beautiful jewel-studded earrings of Aditi, the mother of the gods. The gods, even when assembled with Indra and fearless of death, could not overcome him in battle. Seeing Keśava’s irresistible might, valor, and uncheckable weapons—and knowing his compassionate nature that also subdues the wicked—they begged him to slay that robber Narakāsura. Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa, capable of bringing all undertakings to success, accepted the task of accomplishing that difficult deed.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When injustice becomes entrenched and ordinary power fails, dharma is upheld by seeking rightful, capable protection: compassion must be paired with the strength to restrain and punish the wicked, restoring what was unlawfully taken.
Sanjaya describes Narakāsura’s invincible fortress at Prāgjyotiṣa and his theft of Aditi’s jewel earrings. The gods, even with Indra, cannot defeat him, so they appeal to Kṛṣṇa, recognizing his irresistible prowess and righteous nature; Kṛṣṇa accepts the difficult mission to kill Narakāsura.