Shloka 17
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya Resolve and the Slaying of Jarāsandha
ते गत्वातिथ्यवेलायां गृहेषु गृहमेधिनम् । ब्रह्मण्यं समयाचेरन् राजन्या ब्रह्मलिङ्गिन: ॥ १७ ॥
te gatvātithya-velāyāṁ gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinam brahmaṇyaṁ samayāceran rājanyā brahma-liṅginaḥ
เหล่านักรบกษัตริย์ปลอมเป็นพราหมณ์ ไปยังเรือนของชราสันธะในยามรับแขก แล้วทูลวิงวอนต่อคฤหัสถ์ผู้เคร่งธรรมและเคารพพราหมณ์เป็นพิเศษนั้น
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “King Jarāsandha was a very dutiful householder, and he had great respect for the brāhmaṇas. He was a great fighter, a kṣatriya king, but he was never neglectful of the Vedic injunctions. According to Vedic injunctions, the brāhmaṇas are considered to be the spiritual masters of all other castes. Lord Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīmasena were actually kṣatriyas, but they dressed themselves as brāhmaṇas, and at the time when King Jarāsandha was to give charity to the brāhmaṇas and receive them as guests, they approached him.”
FAQs
This verse highlights that approaching at the proper time for hospitality is part of dharma, and a righteous householder is expected to receive guests respectfully.
They used the socially honored position of brāhmaṇas to gain safe entry and a respectful hearing from Jarāsandha, who was known to be brahmaṇya—devoted to brāhmaṇas and Vedic custom.
Honor guests and approach important conversations with proper timing and respect; also recognize that true virtue includes reverence for wisdom, learning, and sacred culture.