Shloka 7

Chapter 15: Counsel on Initiative vs. Renunciation in the Rajasuya Project (सभापर्व, अध्याय १५)

Devanagari script

वयं चैव महाभाग जरासंधभयात्‌ तदा । शड़किता: सम महाभाग दौरात्म्यात्‌ तस्य चानघ,पापरहित महाभाग! हम भी जरासंधके भयसे तथा उसकी दुष्टतासे सदा शंकित रहते हैं। किसीसे परास्त न होनेवाले प्रभो! मैं तो आपके ही बाहुबलका भरोसा रखता हूँ। जब आप ही जरासंधसे शंकित हैं, तब तो मैं अपनेको उसके सामने कदापि बलवान्‌ नहीं मान सकता

Transliteration

vayaṃ caiva mahābhāga jarāsandha-bhayāt tadā | śaṅkitāḥ sma mahābhāga daurātmyāt tasya cānagha ||

Translation

「おお栄えある御方よ、あの時われらもまた、ジャラーサンダへの恐れと、その振る舞いの邪悪さゆえに、絶えず不安のうちにありました。おお罪なき御方よ、彼の残虐は強者すら警戒させます。ゆえに私は、ただあなたの御腕の力のみに頼ります。あなたの支えなくしては、彼に立ち向かえるとは到底思えません。」

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'vayam', 'definition': 'we'}, {'term': 'caiva', 'definition': 'and indeed

• also'}, {'term': 'mahābhāga', 'definition': 'highly fortunate

• illustrious (vocative address)'}, {'term': 'jarāsandha', 'definition': 'Jarāsandha, king of Magadha'}, {'term': 'bhayāt', 'definition': 'from fear (ablative)'}, {'term': 'tadā', 'definition': 'then

• at that time'}, {'term': 'śaṅkitāḥ sma', 'definition': 'we were anxious/suspicious/apprehensive'}, {'term': 'daurātmyāt', 'definition': 'from wickedness/cruelty (ablative)

• from depravity'}, {'term': 'tasya', 'definition': 'of him

• his'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'anagha', 'definition': 'sinless

Speaker

युधिछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Jarāsandha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights prudent kingship: recognizing a tyrant’s danger is not cowardice but ethical realism. It also underscores the dharmic value of seeking rightful support—placing trust in a capable ally when confronting adharma-driven power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a noble, blameless figure and admits that he and his side have long been anxious due to Jarāsandha’s threat and cruelty. He frames Jarāsandha as dangerous not only for strength but for moral depravity, implying the need for strong assistance to face him.