Shloka 153
Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)
स्नेहबद्धश्न मनसा पितृवद् भक्तिमांस्त्वयि । महाराज! जो मुर और नरक नामक देशका शासन करते हैं
snehabaddhaś ca manasā pitṛvad bhaktimāṁs tvayi | mahārāja! ye mura-naraka-nāmaka-deśasya śāsanaṁ kurvanti, yasyāḥ senā anantā, ye varuṇa-samāḥ paścima-diśaḥ adhipatayaḥ ucyante, ye vṛddhāvasthāṁ gatāḥ, ca ye tava pituḥ mitrāḥ, te yavanādhipati-rājā bhagadattaḥ api vācā kriyayā ca jarāsandhasya purataḥ viśeṣeṇa natamastakāḥ santi; tathāpi te manasā tvat-sneha-pāśe baddhāḥ, yathā pitā putre snehavān, tathā teṣāṁ tvayi vātsalya-bhāvaḥ vartate ||
Kṛṣṇa dit : «Ô grand roi, même Bhagadatta—le suzerain yavana qui règne sur les contrées nommées Mura et Naraka, dont les troupes sont dites innombrables, célèbre tel Varuṇa comme seigneur du couchant, désormais avancé en âge et jadis ami de ton père—bien qu’il s’incline devant Jarāsandha par la parole et par l’acte, demeure intérieurement lié à toi par l’affection. Dans son cœur, il te porte une tendresse paternelle, comme un père pour son fils.»
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Krishna highlights the difference between outward political submission and inward loyalty: a ruler may bow publicly to a stronger power for pragmatic reasons, yet remain bound by genuine affection and dharmic ties (friendship with one’s father, paternal goodwill) toward another.
Krishna describes Bhagadatta’s position: although he appears compliant before Jarāsandha in speech and action, his heart is attached to the addressed king with fatherly tenderness, due to old friendship and longstanding bonds.