Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 8
Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat
हनिष्यामि बलं ह्येतद्भुवि भारं समाहितम् । मागधेन समानीतं वश्यानां सर्वभूभुजाम् ॥ ७ ॥ अक्षौहिणीभि: सङ्ख्यातं भटाश्वरथकुञ्जरै: । मागधस्तु न हन्तव्यो भूय: कर्ता बलोद्यमम् ॥ ८ ॥
haniṣyāmi balaṁ hy etad bhuvi bhāraṁ samāhitam māgadhena samānītaṁ vaśyānāṁ sarva-bhūbhujām
[Thượng Đế suy niệm—] Đạo quân này là gánh nặng cho địa cầu; đạo quân akṣauhiṇī gồm bộ binh, kỵ mã, chiến xa và tượng binh mà vua Magadha Jarāsandha đã gom từ các chư vương thần phục, Ta sẽ tiêu diệt. Nhưng chính Jarāsandha thì không nên bị giết, vì về sau hắn sẽ lại tập hợp quân đội.
After due consideration, Lord Kṛṣṇa decided that since He had descended to the earth to destroy the demons, and since Jarāsandha was so enthusiastic to bring all the demons to the Lord’s front door, it was definitely more efficient to keep Jarāsandha alive and busy.
FAQs
In this verse, Krishna declares that the massive army assembled by Jarasandha has become a burden upon the earth, and He intends to destroy it to relieve that burden.
Because Jarasandha had gathered many subjugated kings into one concentrated military force, increasing oppression and the earth’s burden; Krishna’s purpose is to protect dharma by neutralizing such destructive power.
Do not allow harmful power—within oneself or society—to accumulate unchecked; address the root cause and reduce what creates suffering, while acting responsibly and for the protection of others.