Shloka 40

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya Resolve and the Slaying of Jarāsandha

Devanagari script

शत्रोर्जन्ममृती विद्वाञ्जीवितं च जराकृतम् । पार्थमाप्याययन् स्वेन तेजसाचिन्तयद्धरि: ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

śatror janma-mṛtī vidvāñ jīvitaṁ ca jarā-kṛtam pārtham āpyāyayan svena tejasācintayad dhariḥ

Translation

พระหริทรงรู้ความลับแห่งกำเนิดและความตายของศัตรูคือชราสันธะ และยังทรงรู้ด้วยว่าอสูรนีชราได้ให้ชีวิตแก่เขาอย่างไร ครั้นทรงพิจารณาแล้ว พระกฤษณะจึงถ่ายทอดเดชานุภาพพิเศษของพระองค์แก่พารถะ (ภีมะ)

Synonyms

• śatroḥ: of the enemy
• śatroḥ: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (शत्रु)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• janmamṛtī: birth and death
• janmamṛtī: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janmamṛti (जन्ममृति)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual

• vidvān: knowing / the knower
• vidvān: Visheshana (Adjective to hariḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidvas (विद्वस्)
• Form: Perfect Participle Active; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jīvitam: life
• jīvitam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (जीवित)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• jarākṛtam: caused/made by Jara
• jarākṛtam: Visheshana (Adjective to jīvitam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jarākṛta (जराकृत)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pārtham: Partha (Bhima)
• pārtham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārtha (पार्थ)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āpyāyayan: invigorating / empowering
• āpyāyayan: Visheshana (Adjective to hariḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + pyai (आ + प्यै)
• Form: Causative Present Active Participle (Shatri); Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• svena: with his own
• svena: Visheshana (Adjective to tejasā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (स्व)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tejasā: power / energy
• tejasā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (तेजस्)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• acintayat: thought / reflected
• acintayat: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cint (चिन्त्)
• Form: Lang Lakara (Imperfect), 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular

• hariḥ: Hari (Krishna)
• hariḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (हरि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Purport

Śrīla Prabhupāda writes that Lord Kṛṣṇa “knew the mystery of the birth of Jarāsandha. Jarāsandha was born in two different parts from two different mothers. When his father saw that the baby was useless, he threw the two parts in the forest, where they were later found by a black-hearted witch named Jarā. She managed to join the two parts of the baby from top to bottom. Knowing this, Lord Kṛṣṇa therefore also knew how to kill him.”

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Jarāsandha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s control over life and death?

This verse portrays Hari (Kṛṣṇa) as fully aware of an enemy’s destined birth and death and able to restore His devotee by His own spiritual potency, showing His supreme governance over destiny.

Why did Krishna revive and strengthen Pārtha (Arjuna) here?

In the Jarāsandha episode (Canto 10, Chapter 72), Kṛṣṇa safeguards His devotee and prepares him for the next step in the mission against Jarāsandha, demonstrating divine protection and strategic guidance.

How can devotees apply this teaching in modern life?

Rely on Bhagavān’s protection while doing one’s duty: the verse encourages faith that Kṛṣṇa can restore strength and clarity when challenges arise, especially when one acts in service and righteousness.