Shloka 9

Jarāsandha-prastāvaḥ — Nīti-cintā ca Jarāsandhasya janma-vṛttāntaḥ

The Jarāsandha Prelude: Strategic Counsel and Birth Account

Devanagari script

कृतवीर्यकुले जातो निर्वीर्य: कि करिष्यति | निर्वीर्ये तु कुले जातो वीर्यवांस्तु विशिष्यते

Transliteration

kṛtavīryakule jāto nirvīryaḥ ki kariṣyati | nirvīrye tu kule jāto vīryavāṁs tu viśiṣyate ||

Translation

アルジュナは言った。「たとえクリタヴィールヤの家系に生まれても、自らに力と勇がなければ何を成せよう。だがたとえ弱き家に生まれようとも、真の剛力と英雄の気を備える者こそ、己の功徳によって抜きん出るのだ。」

Word by Word

• कृतवीर्य-कुले: in the Kṛtavīrya family
• कृतवीर्य-कुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतवीर्य-कुल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• जातः: born
• जातः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन्
• Form: Past (perfective), Singular, Masculine, Nominative

• निर्वीर्यः: powerless, without vigor
• निर्वीर्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वीर्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• किम्: what
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम्

• करिष्यति: will do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Future, Third, Singular

• निर्वीर्ये: in a powerless (weak) (family)
• निर्वीर्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वीर्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• कुले: in a family
• कुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• जातः: born
• जातः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन्
• Form: Past (perfective), Singular, Masculine, Nominative

• वीर्यवान्: vigorous, possessing valor
• वीर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: indeed/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished, excels
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिष्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Kṛtavīrya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Nobility is not guaranteed by birth alone: lineage without personal strength and virtue is ineffective, while genuine valor and capability make a person eminent even if their family background is weak.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna comments on the contrast between inherited prestige and personal worth, using the example of being born in Kṛtavīrya’s famed line versus actually possessing vīrya (heroic power). The remark frames an ethical judgment about kingship and excellence based on merit.