Shloka 24
Jarāsandha-nipātana, rāja-mokṣa, and rājasūya-sāhāyya-prārthanā
Jarāsandha’s fall, liberation of kings, and request for support
दम्भोद्धव: कार्तवीर्य उत्तरश्न बृहद्रथ: । श्रेयसो हवमन्येह विनेशु: सबला नृूपा:,दम्भोद्धव, कार्तवीर्य अर्जुन, उत्तर तथा बृहद्रथ--ये सभी नरेश अपनेसे बड़ोंका अपमान करके अपनी सेनासहित नष्ट हो गये
dambhoddhavaḥ kārtavīrya uttaraś ca bṛhadrathaḥ | śreyaso havamanyehā vineśuḥ sabalā nṛpāḥ ||
Śrī Kṛṣṇa nói: «Dambhoddhava, Kārtavīrya (Arjuna), Uttara và Bṛhadratha—những vị vua ấy, vì khinh mạn kẻ cao hơn mình, đã diệt vong cùng binh lực. Sự bất kính đối với bậc chân chính cao quý và chính trực trở thành nguyên nhân suy vong, ngay cả đối với kẻ hùng mạnh».
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and status do not protect a ruler who violates dharma through arrogance. Contempt for those who are superior in virtue, wisdom, or rightful authority invites downfall; humility and reverence toward the truly ‘śreyas’ are presented as safeguards for kingship.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa cites well-known royal exemplars—Dambhoddhava, Kārtavīrya Arjuna, Uttara, and Bṛhadratha—who, by insulting or disregarding those greater than themselves, were destroyed along with their armies. The statement functions as a moral warning within the political-ethical discourse of the Sabha Parva.