Shloka 14

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

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

Devanagari script

ते त्वां ज्ञातिक्षयकरं वयमार्तानुसारिण: । ज्ञातिवद्धिनिमित्तार्थ विनिहन्तुमिहागता:,तुम अपने ही जाति-भाइयोंके हत्यारे हो और हमलोग संकटमें पड़े हुए दीन- दुःखियोंकी रक्षा करनेवाले हैं; अतः सजातीय बन्धुओंकी वृद्धिके उद्देश्यसे हम तुम्हारा वध करनेके लिये यहाँ आये हैं

Transliteration

te tvāṁ jñātikṣayakaraṁ vayam ārtānusāriṇaḥ | jñātivṛddhinimittārthaṁ vinihantum ihāgatāḥ ||

Translation

Engkau pembinasa kaum kerabatmu sendiri; sedangkan kami, yang berpihak kepada mereka yang tertindas dalam kesusahan, datang ke sini untuk menumpaskanmu—demi melindungi dan menguatkan kaum kerabat kami.

Word by Word

तेthey

त्वाम्you

ज्ञातिक्षयकरम्causing the destruction of kinsmen

वयम्we

आर्तानुसारिणःfollowers/supporters of the distressed

ज्ञातिवृद्धिनिमित्तार्थम्for the purpose/reason of increasing (our) kinsmen

विनिहन्तुम्to slay

इहhere

आगताःhaving come

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī Kṛṣṇa

jñāti (kinsmen/relatives)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames violence as morally justified only when it functions as dharmic restraint: stopping one who harms his own kin and protecting the afflicted, with the stated aim of preserving and strengthening the community rather than pursuing mere vengeance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as given in the prompt) addresses an opponent, accusing him of causing the ruin of his own relatives. He declares that ‘we’ have come as defenders of the distressed and, for the sake of their own kinsmen’s welfare, intend to kill or subdue the wrongdoer.