Shloka 18
Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)
जरासंध॑ गतस्त्वेव पुरा यो न मया हतः । पुरुषोत्तमविज्ञातो योडसौ चेदिषु दुर्मति:
jarāsandhaṁ gatastv eva purā yo na mayā hataḥ | puruṣottama-vijñāto yo ’sau cediṣu durmatiḥ ||
Śrī Kṛṣṇa dit : «Cet homme à l’intelligence perverse—connu parmi les Cedis sous le nom de “Puruṣottama”—s’était jadis rallié à Jarāsandha; et je ne l’ai pas tué alors, l’ayant laissé par dédain. À présent, il est de nouveau lié à Jarāsandha.»
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical discernment in leadership: a ruler or hero must recognize and address adharma-driven alliances. It also warns against false reputation and self-exaltation—being ‘known as great’ does not equal being righteous.
Kṛṣṇa identifies a particular wicked-minded man, reputed among the Cedis as ‘Puruṣottama,’ who had earlier aligned himself with Jarāsandha. Kṛṣṇa notes he had previously spared him, and now points to his continued association with Jarāsandha as part of the broader political threat.