Shloka 3
Jarāsandha as Obstacle to the Rājasūya — Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Genealogical Brief
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 13
हरिश्नन्द्रे च राजर्षि रोचमानं विशेषत: । यज्वानं यज्ञमाहर्तु राजसूयमियेष स:,राजसूययज्ञ करनेवाले महात्मा राजर्षियोंकी वैसी महिमा सुनकर तथा पुण्यकर्मोंद्वारा उत्तम लोकोंकी प्राप्ति होती देखकर एवं यज्ञ करनेवाले राजर्षि हरिश्वन्द्रका महान् तेज (तथा विशेष वैभव एवं आदर-सत्कार) सुनकर उनके मनमें राजसूययज्ञ करनेकी इच्छा हुई
hariścandre ca rājarṣi rocamānaṃ viśeṣataḥ | yajvānaṃ yajñam āhartum rājasūyam iyeṣa saḥ ||
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang marinig niya, lalo na, ang maningning na luwalhati ng maharlikang rishi na si Hariścandra—na ang nagsasagawa ng sakripisyo, sa pamamagitan ng mga banal na ritwal, ay nakaaabot sa matataas na daigdig—at nang malaman niya ang dakilang ningning at mga parangal na tinamo nito bilang tagapaghandog, sumilang sa kanya ang hangaring isagawa ang Rājasūya, ang sakripisyong pangkoronasyon ng hari.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links righteous ritual action (yajña) and the fame of dharmic kingship with the aspiration for higher status: hearing that sacrificial merit leads to exalted worlds and public honor, a ruler becomes motivated to pursue the Rājasūya. Ethically, it highlights how exemplars of dharma (like Hariścandra) inspire others toward sanctioned, duty-bound ambition rather than mere conquest.
Vaiśampāyana reports that, after hearing of Hariścandra’s exceptional radiance and prestige as a sacrificer—and the belief that such rites yield superior heavenly attainments—the (unnamed in this pāda) king develops the intention to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice.