Shloka 6
Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat
निरीक्ष्य तद्बलं कृष्ण उद्वेलमिव सागरम् । स्वपुरं तेन संरुद्धं स्वजनं च भयाकुलम् ॥ ५ ॥ चिन्तयामास भगवान् हरि: कारणमानुष: । तद्देशकालानुगुणं स्वावतारप्रयोजनम् ॥ ६ ॥
nirīkṣya tad-balaṁ kṛṣṇa udvelam iva sāgaram sva-puraṁ tena saṁruddhaṁ sva-janaṁ ca bhayākulam
เมื่อพระกฤษณะทอดพระเนตรกองทัพนั้นดุจมหาสมุทรที่เอ่อล้น เห็นนครของพระองค์ถูกปิดล้อมและประชาชนหวาดหวั่น แม้พระองค์เป็นเหตุแรกแห่งสรรพสิ่ง แต่ทรงสำแดงลีลามนุษย์ พระผู้เป็นเจ้า หริ จึงทรงใคร่ครวญการตอบสนองที่เหมาะสมตามกาลเทศะและพระประสงค์แห่งอวตารนี้
The ācāryas point out that the Supreme Godhead did not have to worry about a mortal attack from Jarāsandha and his soldiers. But, as stated here, Śrī Kṛṣṇa was playing the part of a human being ( kāraṇa-mānuṣaḥ ), and He played the part well. This play is called līlā, the Lord’s enactment of spiritual pastimes for the pleasure of His devotees. Although ordinary persons may be dumbfounded by the Lord’s pastimes, the devotees derive tremendous pleasure from His inimitable style of behavior. Thus Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out that Śrī Kṛṣṇa thought as follows: “How should I defeat Jarāsandha? Should I kill the army but not Jarāsandha, or should I kill Jarāsandha and take the army for Myself? Or perhaps I should just kill both of them.” Lord Kṛṣṇa’s conclusion is described in the following verses.
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa calmly assessing the situation—His city surrounded and His people afraid—and then acting according to the time, place, and the deeper purpose of His avatāra, indicating divine strategy rather than impulsive reaction.
To emphasize that although Kṛṣṇa moves among humans and seems to deliberate like a person, He remains the supreme cause behind all events; His choices serve a divine purpose, not limitation.
Like Kṛṣṇa, one can first observe clearly, steady the mind, and then choose actions suited to time and circumstance—while remembering a higher purpose and seeking to protect and reassure those who depend on them.