Shloka 32

Jarāsandha as Obstacle to the Rājasūya — Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Genealogical Brief

Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 13

Devanagari script

अहतस्त्वमसि धर्मज्ञ राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्‌ अथैवमुक्ते नृपतावृत्विग्भिऋ्रषिभिस्तथा

Transliteration

ahatastvam asi dharmajña rājasūyaṃ mahākratum | athaivam ukte nṛpatau ṛtvigbhir ṛṣibhis tathā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Hỡi bậc am tường dharma, ngài không bị đánh bại, không hề tổn hại; vậy hãy cử hành Rājasūya, đại tế của bậc vương giả.” Khi lời ấy được thưa lên với nhà vua, các tư tế chủ lễ và các hiền triết cũng đồng thanh tán thành và nói lời ủng hộ.

Word by Word

• अहतः: unstruck, unharmed
• अहतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहत (√हन्-निहनने, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• असि: are
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (भू)
• Form: Present, Second, Singular

• धर्मज्ञ: O knower of dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• राजसूयम्: the Rājasūya (royal consecration sacrifice)
• राजसूयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महाक्रतुम्: the great sacrifice
• महाक्रतुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाक्रतु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्ते: when (this was) said
• उक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: उक्त (√वच्-भाषणे, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नृपतौ: in/with regard to the king
• नृपतौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• ऋत्विग्भिः: by the officiating priests
• ऋत्विग्भिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ऋषिभिः: by the sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: likewise, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• nṛpa (the king)
• ṛtvij (officiating priests)
• ṛṣi (sages)
• Rājasūya (royal sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links political authority to dharma and ritual legitimacy: a king who is ‘unharmed/undefeated’ and guided by dharma is urged to undertake the Rājasūya, a public act that formalizes sovereignty with the sanction of priests and sages.

What is happening in the narrative?

A counsel is delivered to the king—addressed as a knower of dharma—to proceed with the great Rājasūya sacrifice. After these words are spoken, the assembled officiating priests and sages also concur, reinforcing the recommendation.