Shloka 44
Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat
रुरोध मथुरामेत्य तिसृभिर्म्लेच्छकोटिभि: । नृलोके चाप्रतिद्वन्द्वो वृष्णीन्श्रुत्वात्मसम्मितान् ॥ ४४ ॥
rurodha mathurām etya tisṛbhir mleccha-koṭibhiḥ nṛ-loke cāpratidvandvo vṛṣṇīn śrutvātma-sammitān
അവൻ മഥുരയിൽ എത്തി മൂന്നു കോടി മ്ലേച്ഛസൈന്യങ്ങളോടെ നഗരത്തെ വളഞ്ഞു. മനുഷ്യലോകത്തിൽ അവന് എതിരാളിയില്ലായിരുന്നു; എന്നാൽ വൃഷ്ണികൾ തനിക്കു തുല്യരെന്ന് അവൻ കേട്ടിരുന്നു।
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa concerning the history of Kālayavana: “Once, Gārgya was ridiculed by his brother-in-law as a eunuch, and when the Yādavas heard this they laughed heartily. Infuriated by their laughter, Gārgya set out for the south, thinking, ‘May I have a son who will bring terror to the Yādavas.’ He worshiped Lord Mahādeva, eating powdered iron, and after twelve years obtained his desired benediction. Elated, he returned home.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva describes the attacker as an unrivaled human king who came to Mathurā with three crores of Mleccha troops after hearing of the Vṛṣṇis’ strength—this refers to Kālayavana in the Chapter 50 narrative.
Because he had heard reports of the Vṛṣṇis’ valor and power, he regarded them as comparable to his own strength and therefore came prepared for a major confrontation.
It highlights that formidable challenges can arise even for the strong, and that one should prepare wisely, rely on righteous allies, and seek divine guidance rather than mere pride in one’s own power.