Shloka 27
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya Resolve and the Slaying of Jarāsandha
इत्युदारमति: प्राह कृष्णार्जुनवृकोदरान् । हे विप्रा व्रियतां कामो ददाम्यात्मशिरोऽपि व: ॥ २७ ॥
ity udāra-matiḥ prāha kṛṣṇārjuna-vṛkodarān he viprā vriyatāṁ kāmo dadāmy ātma-śiro ’pi vaḥ
ഇങ്ങനെ തീരുമാനിച്ച ഉദാരമതി ജരാസന്ധൻ കൃഷ്ണൻ, അർജുനൻ, ഭീമൻ എന്നിവരോട് പറഞ്ഞു— “ഹേ വിപ്രന്മാരേ, നിങ്ങൾ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നതു തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കൂ; എന്റെ തല പോലും ഞാൻ നിങ്ങള്ക്ക് നൽകാം.”
FAQs
This verse shows Jarāsandha presenting himself as magnanimous and bound by kṣatriya code—inviting the ‘brāhmaṇas’ to ask any boon, even offering his own head, reflecting the ideal of keeping one’s word and giving without fear.
In this episode, Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, and Bhīma approach Jarāsandha in the guise of brāhmaṇas; Jarāsandha addresses them accordingly, not yet openly treating them as warrior challengers.
It highlights integrity and commitment: speak promises carefully, but once given, honor them—even when it is costly—while also learning to discern appearances, since virtue can be invoked even within a larger conflict.