योगैर् अपि हता यैस् ते तान् मे शृणु धनंजय ॥
अजय्या हि विना योगैर् मृधे ते दैवतैर् अपि ॥
एकैको हि पृथक् तेषां समस्तां सुरवाहिनीम् ॥
योधयेत् समरे पार्थ लोकपालाभिरक्षिताम् ॥
जरासंधो हि रुषितो रौहिणेयप्रधर्षितः ॥
अस्मद्वधार्थं चिक्षेप गदां वै लोहितामुखीम् ॥
सीमन्तम् इव कुर्वाणां नभसः पावकप्रभाम् ॥
व्यदृश्यतापतन्ती सा शक्रमुक्ता यथाशनिः ॥
yogair api hatā yais te tān me śṛṇu dhanaṃjaya ||
ajayyā hi vinā yogair mṛdhe te daivatair api ||
ekaiko hi pṛthak teṣāṃ samastāṃ suravāhinīm ||
yodhayet samare pārtha lokapālābhirakṣitām ||
jarāsaṃdho hi ruṣito rauhiṇeyapradharṣitaḥ ||
asmadvadhārthaṃ cikṣepa gadāṃ vai lohitāmukhīm ||
sīmantam iva kurvāṇāṃ nabhasaḥ pāvakaprabhām ||
vyadṛśyatāpatantī sā śakramuktā yathāśaniḥ ||
"By what means they were slain — hear of that from me, O Dhananjaya; for they were unconquerable without stratagems in battle even by the gods. For each one of them separately would have defeated in battle, O Partha, the whole host of gods, guarded by the guardians of the world. For Jarasandha, enraged, provoked by the son of Rohini [Balarama], hurled a mace with a red maw to slay us. It was seen rushing on, as if drawing a parting across the sky, with the glow of fire, like a thunderbolt loosed by Shakra."
28f5c63368c2 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:58:11 PM UTC
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Krishna openly admits: these enemies were unconquerable in fair combat even for the gods — hence they fell by "stratagems." This admission is significant: the higher providence does not shrink from cunning against an insurmountable evil. This verse teaches that against a force unconquerable by direct means, an indirect path is also permitted; and wisdom in the service of dharma strikes not only with might but with design — for its aim is not the glory of a fair duel but the salvation of the world from invincible evil.