Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

योजनान्ते शतद्वारं वीरविक्रमतोरणम्‌ | अष्टादशावरै्नद्ध क्षत्रियैर्युद्धदुर्मदै:,रैवतकी दुर्गकी लम्बाई तीन योजनकी है। एक-एक योजनपर सेनाओंके तीन-तीन दलोंकी छावनी है। प्रत्येक योजनके अन्तमें सौ-सौ द्वार हैं, जो सेनाओंसे सुरक्षित हैं। वीरोंका पराक्रम ही उस गढ़का प्रधान फाटक है। युद्धमें उन्‍्मत्त होकर पराक्रम दिखानेवाले अठारह यादववंशी क्षत्रियोंसे वह दुर्ग सुरक्षित है

Transliteration

yojanānte śatadvāraṁ vīravikramatoraṇam | aṣṭādaśāvarair naddhaṁ kṣatriyair yuddhadurmadāḥ ||

Translation

योजनान्ते शतद्वारं वीरविक्रमतोरणम्। अष्टादशावरैर्बद्धं क्षत्रियैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः॥

Word by Word

योजनान्तेat the end of a yojana (distance-interval)

शतद्वारम्having a hundred gates

वीरविक्रमतोरणम्whose arch/gateway is (made of) heroes' prowess

अष्टादशby eighteen

अवरैःexcellent/choice (lit. 'not inferior')

विनद्धम्bound/secured/fortified

क्षत्रियैःby Kshatriyas (warriors)

युद्धदुर्मदैःmaddened by battle (battle-frenzied)

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī Kṛṣṇa

Yādava kṣatriyas (eighteen guards/protectors)

Fort/stronghold (durga implied)

Hundred gates (śatadvāra)

Gateway/arch (toraṇa)

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 elevates disciplined martial readiness as a facet of kṣatriya-dharma: a realm’s true ‘gate’ is not merely masonry but the courage, training, and coordinated protection provided by capable warriors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa is describing a heavily secured stronghold: at each yojana-interval there are many gates, and the fortification is effectively maintained by eighteen battle-fervent Yādava kṣatriyas, emphasizing both physical defenses and human valor.