Shloka 24
Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Life in Dvārakā; the Captive Kings’ Appeal; Nārada Announces the Rājasūya
ये च दिग्विजये तस्य सन्नतिं न ययुर्नृपा: । प्रसह्य रुद्धास्तेनासन्नयुते द्वे गिरिव्रजे ॥ २४ ॥
ye ca dig-vijaye tasya sannatiṁ na yayur nṛpāḥ prasahya ruddhās tenāsann ayute dve girivraje
Vingt mille rois qui avaient refusé de se soumettre entièrement à Jarāsandha lors de sa conquête du monde furent emprisonnés de force par lui dans la forteresse nommée Girivraja.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that these kings refused the payment of tribute and other forms of submission to Jarāsandha. Also, there is a well-known account in the Mahābhārata and other literatures that Jarāsandha desired to worship Mahā-bhairava by offering him the lives of one hundred thousand kings in sacrifice.
FAQs
This verse states that the kings who refused to submit during Jarāsandha’s digvijaya were forcibly subdued and kept at Girivraja, totaling twenty thousand and two.
They did not offer submission to the conquering ruler (Jarāsandha), so they were overpowered and confined—setting the narrative backdrop for Kṛṣṇa’s protection of dharma and relief of the oppressed.
Worldly power can coerce and confine, but the Bhagavatam highlights that unjust dominance is temporary; one should align with dharma and seek shelter of the Lord, who ultimately protects the vulnerable.