Shloka 9
Arjuna’s Lament, the End of the Yadus, and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure
यत्तेजसा नृपशिरोऽङ्घ्रिमहन्मखार्थम् आर्योऽनुजस्तव गजायुतसत्त्ववीर्य: । तेनाहृता: प्रमथनाथमखाय भूपा यन्मोचितास्तदनयन्बलिमध्वरे ते ॥ ९ ॥
yat-tejasā nṛpa-śiro-’ṅghrim ahan makhārtham āryo ’nujas tava gajāyuta-sattva-vīryaḥ tenāhṛtāḥ pramatha-nātha-makhāya bhūpā yan-mocitās tad-anayan balim adhvare te
ఆయన తేజస్సువల్లనే మీ గౌరవనీయ అనుజుడు—పది వేల ఏనుగుల బలమున్న వీరుడు—అనేక రాజులు పూజించిన పాదాలున్న జరాసంధుని సంహరించాడు. జరాసంధుని ప్రమథనాథ యజ్ఞానికి తీసుకువచ్చిన రాజులు విముక్తులై, తరువాత రాజసూయంలో వచ్చి మీకు బలిని (కరాన్ని) సమర్పించారు।
Jarāsandha was a very powerful king of Magadha, and the history of his birth and activities is also very interesting. His father, King Bṛhadratha, was also a very prosperous and powerful king of Magadha, but he had no son, although he married two daughters of the King of Kāśī. Being disappointed in not getting a son from either of the two queens, the King, along with his wives, left home to live in the forest for austerities, but in the forest he was benedicted by one great ṛṣi to have a son, and he gave him one mango to be eaten by the queens. The queens did so and were very soon pregnant. The King was very happy to see the queens bearing children, but when the ripe time approached, the queens delivered one child in two parts, one from each of the queens’ wombs. The two parts were thrown in the forest, where a great she-demon used to live, and she was glad to have some delicate flesh and blood from the newly born child. Out of curiosity she joined the two parts, and the child became complete and regained life. The she-demon was known as Jarā, and being compassionate on the childless King, she went to the King and presented him with the nice child. The King was very pleased with the she-demon and wanted to reward her according to her desire. The she-demon expressed her desire that the child be named after her, and thus the child was surnamed Jarāsandha, or one who was joined by Jarā, the she-demon. In fact, this Jarāsandha was born as one of the parts and parcels of the demon Vipracitti. The saint by whose benedictions the queens bore the child was called Candra Kauśika, who foretold of the child before his father Bṛhadratha.
FAQs
This verse recalls that the great Rājasūya was supported by righteous rule: kings were brought under Yudhiṣṭhira’s authority and offered tribute, establishing social order under dharma rather than tyranny.
The verse refers to Yudhiṣṭhira’s noble younger brother—Bhīma—celebrated for extraordinary power and valor used in service of dharma.
Strength and influence are praised when used to support righteous principles and devotion—bringing one’s abilities under higher purpose rather than ego or exploitation.