Shloka 18

Jarā’s Account and the Enthronement of Jarāsandha (जरासंधोत्पत्तिः अभिषेकश्च)

Devanagari script

नातिवर्तिष्य इत्येवं पत्नीभ्यां संनिधौ तदा । स ताभ्यां शुशुभे राजा पत्नी भ्यां वसुधाधिप:

Transliteration

nātivartiṣya ity evaṁ patnībhyāṁ saṁnidhau tadā | sa tābhyāṁ śuśubhe rājā patnībhyāṁ vasudhādhipaḥ ||

Translation

Nói rằng: “Ta sẽ không vượt lời ấy,” nhà vua thốt lên trước mặt hai hoàng hậu. Bấy giờ, bậc chúa tể cõi đất càng thêm rạng rỡ khi có hai người vợ kề bên—sự tự chế và lòng trung tín với lời hứa khiến uy nghi của ngài thêm phần tôn quý.

Word by Word

नnot

अतिवर्तिष्येI shall not transgress / I shall not go beyond

इतिthus (quotative)

एवम्in this manner

पत्नीभ्याम्by/with (his) two wives

संनिधौin the presence

तदाthen

सःhe

ताभ्याम्by/with those two (women)

शुशुभेshone / appeared splendid

राजाthe king

पत्नीभ्याम्by/with (his) two wives

वसुधा-अधिपःlord of the earth

Speaker

कृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

rājā (the king)

patnī (two queens/wives)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights royal dharma expressed as self-restraint and keeping one’s word: a ruler’s true splendor is not merely external but arises from ethical conduct, especially in intimate and public settings where integrity is tested.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the presence of his two queens, the king declares, “I will not transgress,” indicating a vow or boundary he will uphold. The narration then notes that he appears radiant with the two queens beside him, suggesting that his disciplined resolve enhances his dignity and stature.