Shloka 9
Mucukunda’s Departure; Jarāsandha’s Pursuit; Prelude to Rukmiṇī’s Abduction
Rukmiṇī’s Message Begins
पलायमानौ तौ दृष्ट्वा मागध: प्रहसन्बली । अन्वधावद् रथानीकैरीशयोरप्रमाणवित् ॥ ९ ॥
palāyamānau tau dṛṣṭvā māgadhaḥ prahasan balī anvadhāvad rathānīkair īśayor apramāṇa-vit
അവർ ഓടുന്നതു കണ്ട ശക്തനായ മഗധരാജൻ ജരാസന്ധൻ ഉച്ചത്തിൽ ചിരിച്ചു; രഥസേനയും പാദസേനയും കൂട്ടി പിന്തുടർന്നു; ആ രണ്ടു ഈശ്വരന്മാരുടെ ഉന്നതസ്ഥിതി അവൻ ഗ്രഹിച്ചില്ല.
FAQs
This verse shows Jarāsandha mistook Their retreat as weakness; in the Bhagavatam, such apparent flight is part of the Lord’s līlā and strategy, revealing how the proud cannot measure the Supreme.
“Māgadḥa” refers to Jarāsandha, the king of Magadha, who pursued Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with chariot forces.
It warns against judging spiritual strength by external appearances; humility and discernment are needed because the Lord’s ways—and the devotee’s path—can be beyond material estimation.