Shloka 12

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

Rāja-dharma as Līlā

Devanagari script

सर्वेष्व् एतेषु युद्धेषु यादवैः स पराजितः अपक्रान्तो जरासंधः स्वल्पसैन्यैर् बलाधिकः

Transliteration

sarveṣv eteṣu yuddheṣu yādavaiḥ sa parājitaḥ apakrānto jarāsaṃdhaḥ svalpasainyair balādhikaḥ

Translation

In every one of those battles he was defeated by the Yādavas; and Jarāsandha—though superior in strength—withdrew, reduced to a small remnant of his forces.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), बहुवचन; अत्र 'युद्धेषु' विशेषणम्

• एतेषु: in these
• एतेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Locative qualifier/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; 'युद्धेषु' विशेषणम्

• युद्धेषु: in battles
• युद्धेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• यादवैः: by the Yādavas
• यादवैः: Karana (Instrument/agentive instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पराजितः: defeated
• पराजितः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जि (धातु) उपसर्ग: परा- → पराजित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP: 'defeated')

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

• जरासंधः: Jarāsandha
• जरासंधः: Karta (Apposition to 'सः'/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरासंध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वल्पसैन्यैः: with small forces
• स्वल्पसैन्यैः: Karana (Instrumental accompaniment/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सैन्य), तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: स्वल्पं सैन्यम् येषाम्/यैः (with small forces)

• बलाधिकः: stronger (in strength)
• बलाधिकः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective to subject/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: बलात् अधिकः (superior in strength)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa ensures the protection of the Yādavas by repeatedly defeating Jarāsandha, demonstrating the futility of adharma-backed might.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Security of the righteous community and the moral order that restrains predatory kings

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Physical strength without righteousness collapses repeatedly before dharmic resolve supported by the Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Measure success by integrity and right means; do not rely solely on power, numbers, or intimidation.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s protecting grace (rakṣaṇa) manifests through His intimate association with His people, making them resilient beyond material calculation.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Jarasandha

FAQs

What is the significance of Jarāsandha’s repeated defeat in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights that mere physical might and vast armies do not secure victory when opposed by a divinely protected, dharma-aligned polity—here, the Yādavas under Krishna’s overarching sovereignty.

How does Sage Parāśara frame power and kingship through this episode?

Parāśara presents political power as contingent: even a stronger king can be forced into retreat when fortune, strategy, and dharma converge against him—implying a higher ordering principle behind outcomes.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when not named in the verse, the Krishna-centered narrative treats victory and the protection of dharma as expressions of Vishnu’s supreme governance over history and kings.