Shloka 54

Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)

Devanagari script

त्रियोजनायतं सद्म त्रिस्कन्धं योजनावधि

Transliteration

triyojanāyataṃ sadma triskandhaṃ yojanāvadhi | raivatakī durgakī lambāī triyojanikā | ekaika-yojane senānāṃ tritridalāṇāṃ chāvanī | pratyeka-yojanānte śataśata-dvārāṇi senābhiḥ surakṣitāni | vīrāṇāṃ parākrama eva tasya gaḍhasya pradhāna-phāṭakaḥ | yuddhe unmattavat parākrama-pradarśakair aṣṭādaśa yādava-vaṃśyaiḥ kṣatriyaiḥ sa durgaḥ surakṣitaḥ ||

Translation

ରୈବତକର ଦୁର୍ଗ ତିନି ଯୋଜନ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ବିସ୍ତୃତ। ତାହା ତିନି ସ୍ତରରେ ବିନ୍ୟସ୍ତ; ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଯୋଜନରେ ସେନାର ତିନି-ତିନି ଦଳର ଛାଉଣୀ। ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଯୋଜନାନ୍ତେ ଶତ-ଶତ ଦ୍ୱାର—ସେନାଦ୍ୱାରା ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ। ତଥାପି ସେଇ ଗଡ଼ର ପ୍ରଧାନ ଦ୍ୱାର ହେଉଛି ବୀରମାନଙ୍କ ପରାକ୍ରମ। ଯୁଦ୍ଧୋନ୍ମାଦରେ ନିର୍ଭୟ ଶୌର୍ୟ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କରୁଥିବା ଯାଦବବଂଶୀ ଅଠାର ଖ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ ଏହି ଦୁର୍ଗକୁ ଦୃଢ଼ଭାବେ ରକ୍ଷା କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• त्रि-योजन-आयतम्: three-yojanas long
• त्रि-योजन-आयतम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रियोजनायत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सद्म: mansion/abode (structure)
• सद्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• त्रि-स्कन्धम्: having three sections/tiers
• त्रि-स्कन्धम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिस्कन्ध
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• योजन-अवधि: extending up to a yojana (as limit)
• योजन-अवधि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योजनावधि
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Raivataka
• Yādava Kṣatriyas (eighteen warriors)
• fortress (durga)
• gates (dvāra)
• army/troops (senā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage emphasizes that fortifications and gates matter, but the decisive protection of a realm is the disciplined valor and readiness of its defenders—an expression of kṣatriya-dharma where courage and martial competence function as the true ‘main gate’ of security.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Kṛṣṇa describes the stronghold at Raivataka: its three-yojana extent, tiered arrangement, troop encampments, and numerous guarded gates, concluding that it is ultimately safeguarded by the heroic prowess of eighteen Yādava Kṣatriyas.