Shloka 7
Jarāsandha-nipātana, rāja-mokṣa, and rājasūya-sāhāyya-prārthanā
Jarāsandha’s fall, liberation of kings, and request for support
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच कुलकार्य महाबाहो कश्चिदेक: कुलोद्वह: । वहते यस्तन्नियोगाद् वयम भ्युद्यतास्त्वयि,श्रीकृष्णने कहा--महाबाहो! समूचे कुलमें कोई एक ही पुरुष कुलका भार सँभालता है। उस कुलके सभी लोगोंकी रक्षा आदिका कार्य सम्पन्न करता है। जो वैसे महापुरुष हैं, उन्हींकी आज्ञासे हमलोग आज तुम्हें दण्ड देनेको उद्यत हुए हैं
śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | kulakārya mahābāho kaścid ekaḥ kulodvahaḥ | vahate yas tan-niyogād vayam abhyudyatās tvayi ||
Śrī Kṛṣṇa disse: “Ó tu de braços poderosos, em toda uma linhagem às vezes há um único homem eminente que carrega o fardo dos deveres da família e assegura a proteção e o bem-estar de todos. É por ordem de tal grande pessoa que hoje nos erguemos para aplicar-te o castigo.”
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames punishment and coercive action as legitimate when grounded in rightful authority and undertaken for the protection of the wider family/community. It emphasizes the ethical idea that a lineage may be upheld by a single responsible leader (kulodvaha), whose injunctions guide collective action.
Kṛṣṇa addresses a heroic figure (“mahābāho”), explaining that their present readiness to punish him is not arbitrary: it is undertaken under the directive of an eminent family-upholder who bears responsibility for the clan’s welfare.