Shloka 2

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

Rāja-dharma as Līlā

Devanagari script

महाबलपरीवारो मगधाधिपतिर् बली हन्तुम् अभ्याययौ कोपाज् जरासंधः स यादवम्

Transliteration

mahābalaparīvāro magadhādhipatir balī hantum abhyāyayau kopāj jarāsaṃdhaḥ sa yādavam

Translation

Surrounded by a host of mighty warriors, Jarāsandha—the powerful lord of Magadha—advanced in wrath, intent on slaying that Yādava leader.

Word by Word

• महाबलपरीवारः: with a very strong retinue
• महाबलपरीवारः: Karta (Subject-Qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल + परिवार (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (महाबलः परिवारः यस्य/महाबलैः परिवारः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (जरासंधः विशेषणम्)

• मगधाधिपतिः: king of Magadha
• मगधाधिपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मगध + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मगधस्य अधिपतिः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (जरासंधः)

• बली: powerful
• बली: Karta (Subject-Qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (जरासंधः विशेषणम्)

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), उद्देश्य/प्रयोजनार्थ

• अभ्याययौ: came/advanced
• अभ्याययौ: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु) अभि-आ-उपसर्गौ
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कोपात्: from anger/out of wrath
• कोपात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचन

• जरासंधः: Jarāsandha
• जरासंधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरासंध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• यादवम्: the Yādava (Kṛṣṇa/one of the Yādavas)
• यादवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa stands as the protected center of the Yādavas as Jarāsandha marches to destroy him, setting up the Lord’s defense of his people.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Protection of the righteous community from unjust aggression

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Jarāsandha
• Magadha
• Yādava (Krishna’s clan/leader)

FAQs

What is the significance of Jarāsandha’s anger in the Vishnu Purana narrative?

It signals the rise of adharma-driven royal aggression, setting the stage for Krishna’s protection of the Yadavas and the rebalancing of power in accordance with dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara frame this conflict while narrating to Maitreya?

Parāśara presents it as a historical-royal episode within Krishna’s larger divine mission—human kings act through passion and rivalry, while the cosmic order is ultimately upheld by Vishnu’s will.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu (Krishna) in this context?

Krishna, as Vishnu’s manifestation, stands as the sustaining Supreme Reality: even when worldly rulers like Jarāsandha mobilize immense force, the preservation of dharma remains anchored in Vishnu’s sovereignty.