Shloka 6
Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat
निरीक्ष्य तद्बलं कृष्ण उद्वेलमिव सागरम् । स्वपुरं तेन संरुद्धं स्वजनं च भयाकुलम् ॥ ५ ॥ चिन्तयामास भगवान् हरि: कारणमानुष: । तद्देशकालानुगुणं स्वावतारप्रयोजनम् ॥ ६ ॥
nirīkṣya tad-balaṁ kṛṣṇa udvelam iva sāgaram sva-puraṁ tena saṁruddhaṁ sva-janaṁ ca bhayākulam
岸を越えてあふれる大海のごとき軍勢を見、都が包囲され民が恐怖に震えるのを見ても、世界の根本原因でありながら人間のリーラーを演じて降臨された主ハリ、シュリー・クリシュナは、時と所とこの化身の目的にかなう方策を思案された。
The ācāryas point out that the Supreme Godhead did not have to worry about a mortal attack from Jarāsandha and his soldiers. But, as stated here, Śrī Kṛṣṇa was playing the part of a human being ( kāraṇa-mānuṣaḥ ), and He played the part well. This play is called līlā, the Lord’s enactment of spiritual pastimes for the pleasure of His devotees. Although ordinary persons may be dumbfounded by the Lord’s pastimes, the devotees derive tremendous pleasure from His inimitable style of behavior. Thus Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out that Śrī Kṛṣṇa thought as follows: “How should I defeat Jarāsandha? Should I kill the army but not Jarāsandha, or should I kill Jarāsandha and take the army for Myself? Or perhaps I should just kill both of them.” Lord Kṛṣṇa’s conclusion is described in the following verses.
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa calmly assessing the situation—His city surrounded and His people afraid—and then acting according to the time, place, and the deeper purpose of His avatāra, indicating divine strategy rather than impulsive reaction.
To emphasize that although Kṛṣṇa moves among humans and seems to deliberate like a person, He remains the supreme cause behind all events; His choices serve a divine purpose, not limitation.
Like Kṛṣṇa, one can first observe clearly, steady the mind, and then choose actions suited to time and circumstance—while remembering a higher purpose and seeking to protect and reassure those who depend on them.