Shloka 8
अर्जुनस्योत्तरदिग्विजयः
Arjuna’s Northern Conquests and Tribute Collection
(पुन: संधाय तु तदा जरासंध: प्रतापवान् ।।
punar sandhāya tu tadā jarāsandhaḥ pratāpavān | bhīmena ca samāgamya bāhuyuddhaṃ cakāra ha || tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam | sarvalokakṣayakaraṃ sarvabhūtabhayāvaham || punaḥ kṛṣṇas tamiriṇaṃ dvidhā vicchidya mādhavaḥ | vyatyasya prākṣipat tat tu jarāsandhavadhepsayā || bhīmasenas tadā jñātvā nirbibheda ca māgadhām | dvidhā vyatyasya pādena prākṣipac ca nanāda ha ||
ヴァイシャṃパーヤナは語った。すると武威あるジャラーサンダは、ふたたび身をつなぎ合わせ、ビーマに迫って腕力のみの組み討ちを挑んだ。二人の英雄の戦いは轟然として毛もよだつほどで、まるで世界そのものを滅ぼしかねぬ凄絶さであり、あらゆる生きものに恐怖を投げかけた。そのときクリシュナ（マーダヴァ）はジャラーサンダの死を求め、前と同じく葦を二つに裂き、二片を互いに反対の方角へ投げ捨てて、同じ合図を重ねた。合図を悟ったビーマセーナは、再びマガダ王を二つに引き裂き、足でその両半を逆方向へ蹴り飛ばし、咆哮を放った。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power alone is not sufficient; right action in a complex moral situation often requires discernment and guidance. Kṛṣṇa’s nonverbal signal shows how intelligence and timely counsel can align strength (Bhīma) with a dharmic objective—ending a dangerous oppressor—while minimizing the chance of failure.
Jarāsandha, who can rejoin his body after being split, resumes a fierce arm-to-arm fight with Bhīma. Kṛṣṇa signals the correct method to kill him by splitting a reed and throwing the halves apart. Bhīma understands, tears Jarāsandha into two, and throws the halves in opposite directions so they cannot reunite.