Shloka 28
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya Resolve and the Slaying of Jarāsandha
श्रीभगवानुवाच युद्धं नो देहि राजेन्द्र द्वन्द्वशो यदि मन्यसे । युद्धार्थिनो वयं प्राप्ता राजन्या नान्यकाङ्क्षिण: ॥ २८ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca yuddhaṁ no dehi rājendra dvandvaśo yadi manyase yuddhārthino vayaṁ prāptā rājanyā nānya-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ
శ్రీభగవానుడు అన్నాడు— “ఓ రాజేంద్రా, నీకు తగినదనిపిస్తే మాకు ద్వంద్వయుద్ధం ఇవ్వు. మేము క్షత్రియులు; యుద్ధం కోరుతూ వచ్చాము; ఇంకేమీ కోరిక లేదు.”
FAQs
This verse highlights kṣatriya duty as seeking honorable combat, specifically proposing regulated one-on-one duels rather than chaotic warfare, reflecting dharmic conduct in battle.
In the Jarasandha episode, Krishna approaches as a warrior and proposes dvandva-yuddha (duel) as a righteous, traditional kṣatriya method—framing the conflict within dharma while aiming to end Jarasandha’s oppression.
Act with integrity and clear intention: face challenges directly, follow fair rules, and avoid hidden motives—doing what is right rather than pursuing selfish gain.