Shloka 24
Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)
न कुलं स बलं॑ राजन्नभ्यजानात् तथा55त्मन: । पश्यमानो यशो दीप्तं जरासंधमुपस्थित:,राजन! वे अपने बल और कुलकी ओर भी ध्यान नहीं देते, केवल जरासंधके उज्ज्वल यशकी ओर देखकर उसके आश्रित बन गये हैं
na kulaṁ sa balaṁ rājan abhyajānāt tathātmanaḥ | paśyamāno yaśo dīptaṁ jarāsandham upasthitaḥ ||
રાજન! તેણે ન પોતાના કુળને યોગ્ય રીતે ઓળખ્યું, ન પોતાના બળને; જરાસંધનું દીપ્ત યશ જોઈ તે તેની પાસે જઈ આશ્રિત બન્યો.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kṛṣṇa highlights a moral-political failure: being dazzled by another ruler’s fame can cloud discernment of one’s own rightful standing (kula) and real capacity (bala). Ethical judgment in kingship requires sober assessment, not surrender to mere reputation.
Kṛṣṇa describes how a person (in context, a ruler or ally) neglects consideration of his own lineage and strength and, impressed by Jarāsandha’s radiant renown, approaches him and becomes dependent on him—indicating Jarāsandha’s dominance and the pull of his prestige.