Shloka 10

Jarāsandha’s Sieges and the Lord’s Human-Conforming Strategy

Rāja-dharma as Līlā

Devanagari script

पुनर् अप्य् आजगामाथ जरासंधो बलान्वितः जितश् च रामकृष्णाभ्याम् अपक्रान्तो द्विजोत्तम

Transliteration

punar apy ājagāmātha jarāsaṃdho balānvitaḥ jitaś ca rāmakṛṣṇābhyām apakrānto dvijottama

Translation

Again Jarāsandha returned, strengthened by his armies; yet, defeated by Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, he withdrew once more—O best of the twice-born.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• अपि: also/indeed
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle; emphasis/addition)

• आजगाम: came
• आजगाम: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) उपसर्ग: आ-
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/अनन्तर्यसूचक particle: then/now)

• जरासंधः: Jarāsandha
• जरासंधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरासंध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/nominative), एकवचन

• बलान्वितः: endowed with strength/forces
• बलान्वितः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle sense: 'endowed with'); समास: बल- (instrumental/with) + अन्वित

• जितः: defeated
• जितः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective to subject/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जि (धातु) → जित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP: 'conquered/defeated')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक conjunction)

• रामकृष्णाभ्याम्: by Rāma and Kṛṣṇa
• रामकृष्णाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/Agentive instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), द्विवचन (dual); द्वन्द्वसमास (रामः च कृष्णः च)

• अपक्रान्तः: retreated
• अपक्रान्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रम् (धातु) उपसर्ग: अप- → अपक्रान्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP: 'having retreated/withdrawn')

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born (O excellent brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case/vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: द्विजः (ब्राह्मणः) एव उत्तमः

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa descends to protect the Yādavas and uphold dharma by repeatedly repelling Jarāsandha’s aggression.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Kṣatriya-protection and the safety of the Yādava polity against unjust invasion

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Jarāsandha
• Rāma (Balarāma)
• Kṛṣṇa
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of Jarāsandha repeatedly returning in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights the persistence of adharma-driven royal ambition and sets a recurring contrast: worldly might repeatedly collapses before the divinely guided protection of Dharma through Krishna and Balarama.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the defeats of powerful kings like Jarāsandha?

Through narrative causality: kings may gather immense armies, but when their aims oppose righteous order, the avatāra’s presence ensures their power is checked and they are forced to retreat.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Krishna (as Vishnu’s avatāra) embodies supreme sovereignty: even when adversaries return with greater force, divine order prevails, affirming Vishnu as the ultimate governor of kingship and cosmic justice.