Shloka 21
Jarāsandha-nipātana, rāja-mokṣa, and rājasūya-sāhāyya-prārthanā
Jarāsandha’s fall, liberation of kings, and request for support
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत सभापव॑के अन्तर्गत जरासंधवधपर्वमें श्रीकृष्णजरासंधरसंवादविषयक इक्कीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti prakāraṁ śrīmahābhārate sabhāparvaṇi antargata-jarāsandhavadha-parvaṇi śrīkṛṣṇa-jarāsandha-saṁvāda-viṣayaka ekaviṁśatitamo ’dhyāyaḥ pūrṇaḥ | asmābhiḥ saha yo yuddhaṁ tava bhaviṣyati, sa tava yathā svargaloka-prāpti-sādhakaḥ syāt, tathā yuddhaḥ kasya sulabhaḥ? mama pārśve mahān balavāhinī ca śaktir asti—ity asmin garveṇa māgadha-deśasya agaṇita-senābhiḥ pareṣām apamānaṁ mā kṛthāḥ | rājan! pratyeka-manuṣye balaṁ ca parākramaś ca vidyate | mahārāja! kasyacid tava-samaṁ tejaḥ, kasyacid api tvatto ’dhikaṁ bhavati |
かくして『シュリー・マハーバーラタ』サバー篇、ジャラーサンダ討伐章において、シュリー・クリシュナとジャラーサンダの対話を扱う第二十一章は終わる。「まもなく汝と我らの間に起ころうとするこの戦いほど、天界到達の手段としてこれほど容易に与えられた争いが他にあろうか。だが、大軍と大いなる力を持つという驕りに酔い、摩掲陀の無数の兵を頼んで他者を侮辱し圧迫してはならぬ。王よ、人は誰しも相応の力と武勇を持つ。大王よ、ある者には汝に等しい輝きがあり、ある者には汝をも上回る輝きがある。」
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śrī Kṛṣṇa warns against arrogance born of armies and power: a king should not humiliate others through brute force. True kṣatriya honor lies in righteous conduct and recognizing that valor and brilliance exist in many—some equal, some greater—so pride is ethically dangerous.
In the context of the Kṛṣṇa–Jarāsandha exchange, Kṛṣṇa frames the impending combat as a rare, honor-bearing opportunity (even a heaven-leading act when aligned with kṣatriya duty) and admonishes Jarāsandha not to misuse Magadha’s vast forces to oppress other rulers.