Shloka 11
Jarā’s Account and the Enthronement of Jarāsandha (जरासंधोत्पत्तिः अभिषेकश्च)
युधिछिर उवाच कृष्ण को<यं जरासंध: किंवीर्य: किम्पराक्रम: । यस्त्वां स्पृष्टवाग्निसदृशं न दग्ध: शलभो यथा,युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--श्रीकृष्ण! यह जरासंध कौन है? उसका बल और पराक्रम कैसा है जो प्रज्वलित अग्निके समान आपका स्पर्श करके भी पतंगके समान जलकर भस्म नहीं हो गया?
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—kṛṣṇa ko ’yaṃ jarāsandhaḥ? kiṃ-vīryaḥ? kiṃ-parākramaḥ? yaḥ tvāṃ spṛṣṭvā agni-sadṛśaṃ na dagdhaḥ śalabho yathā.
Yudhiṣṭhira thưa: “Kṛṣṇa, Jarāsandha này là ai? Sức lực và uy dũng của hắn ra sao? Bởi dù đã chạm đến ngài—tựa ngọn lửa rực cháy—hắn vẫn không bị thiêu thành tro như con thiêu thân.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent kingship: before undertaking a political or military course, a ruler should inquire into an opponent’s identity, resources, and capability. It also underscores discernment—recognizing that even near the ‘fire’ of a great power, some adversaries may not be easily subdued.
In the Sabha Parva context, Yudhiṣṭhira questions Kṛṣṇa about Jarāsandha—his background and martial capacity—marveling that Jarāsandha has confronted Kṛṣṇa (likened to blazing fire) without being destroyed like a moth.