Mahabharata 2.22.35 — Sabha Parva, Adhyaya 22, Shloka 35

Jarāsandha-nipātana, rāja-mokṣa, and rājasūya-sāhāyya-prārthanā

Jarāsandha’s fall, liberation of kings, and request for support

Devanagari script

सत्यसंधो जरासंधं भुवि भीमपराक्रमम्‌ । भागमन्यस्य निर्दिष्टमवध्यं मधुभिम्मुधे

Transliteration

satyasaṃdho jarāsaṃdhaṃ bhuvi bhīmaparākramam | bhāgam anyasya nirdiṣṭam avadhyaṃ madhubhin mudhe, janamejaya ||

Translation

జనమేజయా! సత్యసంకల్పుడైన మధుసూదనుడు దివ్యదృష్టితో గ్రహించాడు—భూమిపై భీమసమాన పరాక్రమం గల జరాసంధుడు యుద్ధంలో మరొక వీరుని ‘భాగం’ (వధ్యుడు)గా నియమించబడ్డాడు; అందువల్ల మధుసూదనుని చేత అతడు అవధ్యుడు।

Word by Word

• सत्यसन्धः: true to his vow
• सत्यसन्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यसन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जरासन्धम्: Jarāsandha
• जरासन्धम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरासन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• भीमपराक्रमम्: of terrible valor
• भीमपराक्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीमपराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भागम्: share/portion (destined lot)
• भागम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अन्यस्य: of another (person)
• अन्यस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• निर्दिष्टम्: appointed/assigned
• निर्दिष्टम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्दिश्
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अवध्यम्: not to be slain (by certain means)
• अवध्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवध्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मधुभित्: Madhusūdana (slayer of Madhu)
• मधुभित्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुभिद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मुधे: in battle
• मुधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुध्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• जनमेजय: O Janamejaya
• जनमेजय: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa)
• Jarāsandha
• Bhīma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when one has the power to act, dharma may require restraint: outcomes are sometimes allotted by a higher ordinance, and ethical action includes honoring rightful agency and the destined course rather than acting from mere capability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana explains that Kṛṣṇa (Madhusūdana) knows Jarāsandha is destined to be slain by someone else in battle; therefore Kṛṣṇa does not kill him himself, preserving the ordained arrangement.