कृष्ण उवाच
आदत्ते ऽर्थपरो बालो नानुबन्धम् अवेक्षते ॥
तस्माद् अरिं न मृष्यन्ति बालम् अर्थपरायणम् ॥
हित्वा करान् यौवनाश्वः पालनाच् च भगीरथः ॥
कार्तवीर्यस् तपोयोगाद् बलात् तु भरतो विभुः ॥
ऋद्ध्या मरुत्तस् तान् पञ्च सम्राज इति शुश्रुमः ॥
kṛṣṇa uvāca
ādatte 'rthaparo bālo nānubandham avekṣate ||
tasmād ariṃ na mṛṣyanti bālam arthaparāyaṇam ||
hitvā karān yauvanāśvaḥ pālanāc ca bhagīrathaḥ ||
kārtavīryas tapoyogād balāt tu bharato vibhuḥ ||
ṛddhyā maruttas tān pañca samrāja iti śuśrumaḥ ||
Krishna said: "A greedy fool grasps [at things], without regard for consequences; therefore [the wise] do not tolerate such an enemy — a fool devoted to gain. By remitting taxes, [Yauvanashva] Mandhata [became a sovereign]; by protection — Bhagiratha; by the power of austerity — Kartavirya; by [martial] strength — the mighty Bharata; by prosperity — Marutta; these five we have heard were sovereigns."
684f4ac3e3f2 · published Jul 16, 2026, 3:13:23 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here Krishna shows the pattern of true sovereignty: it is won through virtue — relief of taxes, protection, austerity, valor, prosperity. It is significant that the supremacy of these five ancients rested not on violence but on good done for their subjects: legitimate power crowns one who serves the people. Thus the scripture reveals the distinction between righteous rule and tyranny; and further — of Jarasandha.