Shloka 24

Jarāsandha–Vāsudeva Saṃvāda: Kṣātra-Dharma, Pride, and the Ethics of Coercion

Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 20

Devanagari script

हतं मेने जरासंध॑ दृष्टवा भीमपुरोगमौ । एककार्यसमुद्यन्तौ कृष्णौ युद्धेडधपराजितौ

Transliteration

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | hataṃ mene jarāsaṃdhaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmapurogamau | ekakāryasamudyantau kṛṣṇau yuddhe 'dhaparājitau |

Translation

毗湿摩耶那说道：尤提士提罗见那两位克里希纳——战阵之中从未被征服者——为同一目的而出发，并以毗摩为先锋向前推进，便确信阇罗僧陀已如同被诛。为正义之事而合一的决意，迸发出凛然可畏的威光；那威光由对阇罗僧陀的公正忿怒所点燃，并指向解救宗亲的使命。

Word by Word

• हतम्: slain (as object: 'slain')
• हतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मेने: thought/considered
• मेने: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular

• जरासन्धः: Jarasandha
• जरासन्धः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरासन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा)

• भीमपुरोगमौ: the two who had Bhima in front (led by Bhima)
• भीमपुरोगमौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीमपुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• एककार्यसमुद्यन्तौ: the two striving for a single task
• एककार्यसमुद्यन्तौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एककार्यसमुद्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• कृष्णौ: the two Krishnas (Krishna and Arjuna)
• कृष्णौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कदापि: ever/at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदापि (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable

• अपराजितौ: unconquered/never defeated
• अपराजितौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Jarāsandha
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When righteous purpose is unified and led with courage, even a seemingly invincible oppressor becomes effectively defeated; dharmic resolve, not mere force, is presented as the decisive power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira sees Bhīma going ahead with Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, both famed as unconquered warriors, all committed to one mission against Jarāsandha; from this he concludes that Jarāsandha’s death is certain.