Shloka 11

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

Rāja-dharma as Līlā

Devanagari script

दश चाष्टौ च संग्रामान् एवम् अत्यन्तदुर्मदः यदुभिर् मागधो राजा चक्रे कृष्णपुरोगमैः

Transliteration

daśa cāṣṭau ca saṃgrāmān evam atyantadurmadaḥ yadubhir māgadho rājā cakre kṛṣṇapurogamaiḥ

Translation

Thus the king of Magadha, Jarāsandha—blinded by extreme arrogance—waged eighteen battles against the Yadus, with Śrī Kṛṣṇa at the forefront.

Word by Word

• दश: ten
• दश: Viśeṣaṇa (Numeral modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; अत्र कर्मपदस्य (संग्रामान्) विशेषणम्; (पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनानुरूपं)

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

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Numeral modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; अत्र कर्मपदस्य (संग्रामान्) विशेषणम्; (पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनानुरूपं)

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

• संग्रामान्: battles
• संग्रामान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), बहुवचन

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb: thus/in this manner)

• अत्यन्तदुर्मदः: exceedingly arrogant
• अत्यन्तदुर्मदः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective to subject/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त + दुर्मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: अत्यन्तः दुर्मदः (very arrogant)

• यदुभिः: by the Yadus
• यदुभिः: Karana (Instrument/agentive instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), बहुवचन

• मागधः: the Magadhan (king)
• मागधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मागध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (Apposition to subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चक्रे: made/undertook
• चक्रे: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कृष्णपुरोगमैः: with Kṛṣṇa in the forefront/led by Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णपुरोगमैः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective to 'यदुभिः'/instrumental group/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: कृष्णः पुरोगमः येषाम् (with Kṛṣṇa as leader)

Speaker

Sage Parashara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa safeguards His people by repeatedly meeting Jarāsandha’s challenges and breaking the pride that fuels adharma.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Restraint of tyrannical kingship and protection of righteous clans

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unchecked darpa (arrogance) drives repeated violence and leads to downfall when opposed by dharmic power.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate humility and restraint in leadership; treat repeated conflict as a signal to correct one’s motives rather than escalate.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma prevails because the Lord’s will operates through His devotees and chosen instruments (here, the Yādavas led by Kṛṣṇa).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Yadus (Yadava clan)
• Jarasandha (Magadha king)
• Magadha

FAQs

What is the significance of the eighteen battles in the Vishnu Purana?

They emphasize Jarasandha’s relentless hostility and pride, while highlighting Krishna’s protective leadership over the Yadus and the recurring triumph of divine order over royal arrogance.

How does Sage Parashara frame Jarasandha’s motive here?

Parashara characterizes him as 'atyantadurmada'—overwhelmed by pride—presenting warfare as arising from inner moral disorder rather than mere political necessity.

What is the theological importance of Krishna being 'in the vanguard' (kṛṣṇa-purogamaiḥ)?

It portrays Krishna not only as a strategist-kingly leader but as the Supreme sustaining presence (Vishnu) who upholds dharma by protecting his devotees and restoring balance among rulers.