Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 22
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya Resolve and the Slaying of Jarāsandha
श्रीशुक उवाच स्वरैराकृतिभिस्तांस्तु प्रकोष्ठैर्ज्याहतैरपि । राजन्यबन्धून् विज्ञाय दृष्टपूर्वानचिन्तयत् ॥ २२ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca svarair ākṛtibhis tāṁs tu prakoṣṭhair jyā-hatair api rājanya-bandhūn vijñāya dṛṣṭa-pūrvān acintayat
圣舒迦提婆·高斯瓦米说：从他们的声调、体态，以及前臂上弓弦勒出的痕迹，迦罗散陀便知这些来客属于王族刹帝利。于是他思忖：我似乎曾在某处见过他们。
The ācāryas point out that Jarāsandha had seen Lord Kṛṣṇa, Bhīmasena and Arjuna at Draupadī’s svayaṁvara ceremony. Since they had come begging in the guise of brāhmaṇas, Jarāsandha thought they must be low-class kṣatriyas, as indicated here by the word rājanya-bandhūn.
FAQs
This verse notes that the marks on the forearms caused by the striking of a bowstring, along with voice and appearance, can reveal a person’s kṣatriya (warrior) identity even when they are not openly presenting themselves.
In the narrative of Canto 10 Chapter 72, the visitors come in disguise; once the king realizes they are of the royal order and familiar, he becomes cautious and thoughtful about their purpose and the implications of their arrival.
External roles can be concealed, but consistent habits and “marks” of one’s nature tend to reveal identity; the verse encourages discernment—looking beyond appearances to patterns of character and conduct.