Shloka 24

Jarāsandha-nipātana, rāja-mokṣa, and rājasūya-sāhāyya-prārthanā

Jarāsandha’s fall, liberation of kings, and request for support

Devanagari script

दम्भोद्धव: कार्तवीर्य उत्तरश्न बृहद्रथ: । श्रेयसो हवमन्येह विनेशु: सबला नृूपा:,दम्भोद्धव, कार्तवीर्य अर्जुन, उत्तर तथा बृहद्रथ--ये सभी नरेश अपनेसे बड़ोंका अपमान करके अपनी सेनासहित नष्ट हो गये

Transliteration

dambhoddhavaḥ kārtavīrya uttaraś ca bṛhadrathaḥ | śreyaso havamanyehā vineśuḥ sabalā nṛpāḥ ||

Translation

दम्भोद्धव, कार्तवीर्य अर्जुन, उत्तर आणि बृहद्रथ—हे राजे आपल्या पेक्षा श्रेष्ठांचा अवमान करून सैन्यासह नष्ट झाले.

Word by Word

दम्भोद्भवःDambhodbhava (a king, 'born of pride')

कार्तवीर्यःKārtavīrya (a king)

अर्जुनःArjuna (here: Kārtavīrya Arjuna)

उत्तरःUttara (a king)

चand

बृहद्रथःBṛhadratha (a king, 'having a great chariot')

श्रेयसःof the superior/better (persons); of elders

हवम्challenge/defiance (lit. 'calling')

अन्येothers

इहhere (in this world/instance)

विनेशुःperished / were destroyed

सबलाःwith (their) forces/armies

नृपाःkings

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī Kṛṣṇa

Dambhoddhava

Kārtavīrya Arjuna

Uttara

Bṛhadratha

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power and status do not protect a ruler who violates dharma through arrogance. Contempt for those who are superior in virtue, wisdom, or rightful authority invites downfall; humility and reverence toward the truly ‘śreyas’ are presented as safeguards for kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Kṛṣṇa cites well-known royal exemplars—Dambhoddhava, Kārtavīrya Arjuna, Uttara, and Bṛhadratha—who, by insulting or disregarding those greater than themselves, were destroyed along with their armies. The statement functions as a moral warning within the political-ethical discourse of the Sabha Parva.