Shloka 26
त्वामाह्नयामहे राजन् स्थिरो युध्यस्व मागध । मुज्च वा नृपतीन् सर्वान् गच्छ वा त्वं यमक्षयम्,मगधनरेश! हम तुम्हें युद्धके लिये ललकारते हैं। तुम डटकर युद्ध करो। तुम या तो समस्त राजाओंको छोड़ दो अथवा यमलोककी राह लो
tvām āhnayāmahe rājan sthiro yudhyasva māgadha | muñca vā nṛpatīn sarvān gaccha vā tvaṃ yamakṣayam ||
ಓ ಮಾಗಧರಾಜನೇ, ನಾವು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಯುದ್ಧಕ್ಕೆ ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಸ್ಥಿರವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತು ಯುದ್ಧಮಾಡು. ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಈ ಎಲ್ಲ ರಾಜರನ್ನು ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಮಾಡು; ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಯಮಲೋಕದ ಮಾರ್ಗವನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿ.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power must be restrained by dharma: unlawful oppression—here, the captivity of kings—must be ended. When persuasion fails, a kṣatriya may enforce justice through a righteous challenge, offering the wrongdoer a clear choice: reform (release the captives) or face the lawful consequences (battle and death).
Śrī Kṛṣṇa addresses the Magadhan ruler (Jarāsandha) directly, issuing a formal combat challenge. The challenge is coupled with a demand to free all imprisoned kings; refusal means accepting a fight to the death, expressed as going to Yama’s realm.