Shloka 5
Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat
निरीक्ष्य तद्बलं कृष्ण उद्वेलमिव सागरम् । स्वपुरं तेन संरुद्धं स्वजनं च भयाकुलम् ॥ ५ ॥ चिन्तयामास भगवान् हरि: कारणमानुष: । तद्देशकालानुगुणं स्वावतारप्रयोजनम् ॥ ६ ॥
nirīkṣya tad-balaṁ kṛṣṇa udvelam iva sāgaram sva-puraṁ tena saṁruddhaṁ sva-janaṁ ca bhayākulam
ആ സൈന്യത്തെ കരകവിഞ്ഞൊഴുകുന്ന സമുദ്രംപോലെ കണ്ടും, തന്റെ നഗരം ഉപരോധിക്കപ്പെട്ടതും സ്വജനങ്ങൾ ഭയാകുലരായതും കണ്ടും, ലോകകാരണമാകുന്നവനായിട്ടും മനുഷ്യലീല ധരിച്ച ഭഗവാൻ ഹരി ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ ദേശ-കാലാനുസൃതമായി തന്റെ അവതാരലക്ഷ്യത്തിന് യോജിച്ച നടപടി എന്തെന്നു ചിന്തിച്ചു।
The ācāryas point out that the Supreme Godhead did not have to worry about a mortal attack from Jarāsandha and his soldiers. But, as stated here, Śrī Kṛṣṇa was playing the part of a human being ( kāraṇa-mānuṣaḥ ), and He played the part well. This play is called līlā, the Lord’s enactment of spiritual pastimes for the pleasure of His devotees. Although ordinary persons may be dumbfounded by the Lord’s pastimes, the devotees derive tremendous pleasure from His inimitable style of behavior. Thus Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out that Śrī Kṛṣṇa thought as follows: “How should I defeat Jarāsandha? Should I kill the army but not Jarāsandha, or should I kill Jarāsandha and take the army for Myself? Or perhaps I should just kill both of them.” Lord Kṛṣṇa’s conclusion is described in the following verses.
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa noticing the siege of His city and the fear of His own people—highlighting His attentive, protective care for devotees and dependents.
The verse describes a vast besieging army hemming in Kṛṣṇa’s city; in the chapter’s narrative, this refers to the hostile force attacking Dvārakā.
When fear rises like a stormy ocean, remember that the Lord is aware of the devotee’s situation; respond with steadiness, prayerful surrender, and dharmic action rather than panic.