Shloka 19

Devanagari script

रत्नभाजो हि राजानो जरासंधमुपासते । न च तुष्यति तेनापि बाल्यादनयमास्थित:,जो रत्नोंके अधिपति हैं, ऐसे राजालोग (धन देकर) जरासंधकी उपासना करते हैं, परंतु वह उससे भी संतुष्ट नहीं होता। अपनी विवेकशून्यताके कारण अन्यायका आश्रय ले उनपर अत्याचार ही करता है

Transliteration

ratnabhājo hi rājāno jarāsandham upāsate | na ca tuṣyati tenāpi bālyād anayam āsthitaḥ ||

Translation

Les rois qui possèdent et distribuent des trésors rendent hommage à Jarāsandha par des présents ; et pourtant il n’en est pas satisfait. Par une folie d’enfant, il s’est réfugié dans l’injustice, et au lieu de se contenter, il ne cesse de les opprimer.

Word by Word

रत्नभाजःsharing/possessing jewels; wealthy

हिindeed, for

राजानःkings

जरासन्धम्Jarasandha

उपासतेworship/serve, pay court to

नnot

चand

तुष्यतिis satisfied

तेनby that; by him/it

अपिeven, also

बाल्यात्from childhood

अनयम्wrong course; injustice

आस्थितःhaving resorted to; having adopted

Speaker

कृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kṛṣṇa

Jarāsandha

rājānaḥ (kings)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Material offerings and political submission do not reform an unjust ruler; when a person has embraced anaya (unrighteousness) out of moral immaturity, he remains unsatisfied and turns power into oppression. The verse highlights the ethical failure of greed and adharma in kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa describes how many kings, even wealthy ones, try to appease Jarāsandha by paying court and giving treasures. Despite receiving such tribute, Jarāsandha is not content and continues to act unjustly, indicating his tyrannical nature and the political pressure he exerts over other rulers.