Shloka 21
Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)
चतुर्थभाग् महाराज भोज इन्द्रसखो बली । विद्याबलाद् यो व्यजयत् सपाण्ड्यक्रथकैशिकान्
caturthabhāg mahārāja bhoja indrasakho balī | vidyābalād yo vyajayat sapāṇḍyakrathakaiśikān |
Ô roi, même Bhīṣmaka—le souverain bhoja qui détient le quart de la terre, ami d’Indra, puissant, et qui, par la force de la science des armes, a vaincu les royaumes des Pāṇḍya, des Kratha et des Kaiśika—bien qu’il soit un pourfendeur d’ennemis et, comme mon beau-père, un prince éminent, demeure pourtant dévoué à Jarāsandha, roi de Magadha.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that worldly power and reputation do not guarantee independence: even a strong, accomplished king may become loyal to a dominant ruler due to political pressure, strategic necessity, or fear—an ethical reminder about the constraints of kingship and the complexities of dharma in statecraft.
Kṛṣṇa is describing the extent of Jarāsandha’s influence: he cites Bhīṣmaka, a powerful Bhoja king and Kṛṣṇa’s father-in-law, noting his conquests and status, yet emphasizing that even he aligns himself with Jarāsandha of Magadha.