Jarāsandha-prastāvaḥ — Nīti-cintā ca Jarāsandhasya janma-vṛttāntaḥ
The Jarāsandha Prelude: Strategic Counsel and Birth Account
अर्जुन उवाच धनु: शस्त्र शरा वीर्य पक्षो भूमिर्यशो बलम् | प्राप्तमेतन््मया राजन दुष्प्रापं यदभीप्सितम्,अर्जुनने कहा--राजन्! धनुष, शस्त्र, बाण, पराक्रम, श्रेष्ठ सहायक, भूमि, यश और बलकी प्राप्ति बड़ी कठिनाईसे होती है; किंतु ये सभी दुर्लभ वस्तुएँ मुझे अपनी इच्छाके अनुकूल प्राप्त हुई हैं
arjuna uvāca
dhanuḥ śastraśarā vīryapakṣo bhūmir yaśo balam |
prāptam etan mayā rājan duṣprāpaṃ yad abhīpsitam ||
അർജുനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—രാജാവേ! ധനുസ്സും ശസ്ത്രങ്ങളും ശരങ്ങളും വീര്യവും ഉത്തമ സഹായിൾ, ഭൂമി, യശസ്, ബലം—ഇവയെല്ലാം ദുർലഭം; എങ്കിലും ഞാൻ അഭിലഷിച്ചതെല്ലാം എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിനൊത്തവണ്ണം ലഭിച്ചു।
अर्जुन उवाच
The verse highlights that the instruments of kingship and warrior-success—arms, valor, allies, territory, fame, and strength—are rare and difficult to secure; when they are obtained, they should be recognized as significant and used with responsibility in accordance with kṣatriya-dharma.
Arjuna addresses a king and reflects that he has gained the key resources of power and success—martial equipment, personal prowess, supportive allies, land, reputation, and strength—attainments that are normally hard to acquire, and that these have come to him as he had wished.