Devanagari
सोऽपि दग्धाविति मृषा मन्वानो बलकेशवौ ।
बलमाकृष्य सुमहन्मगधान् मागधो ययौ ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
so ’pi dagdhāv iti mṛṣā
manvāno bala-keśavau
balam ākṛṣya su-mahan
magadhān māgadho yayau
Synonyms
saḥ
—
he
;
api
—
further
;
dagdhau
—
both burned in the fire
;
iti
—
thus
;
mṛṣā
—
falsely
;
manvānaḥ
—
thinking
;
bala
—
keśavau — Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa
;
balam
—
his force
;
ākṛṣya
—
pulling back
;
su
—
mahat — huge
;
magadhān
—
to the kingdom of the Magadhas
;
māgadhaḥ
—
the King of the Magadhas
;
yayau
—
went .
Translation
Jarāsandha, moreover, mistakenly thought that Balarāma and Keśava had burned to death in the fire. Thus he withdrew his vast military force and returned to the Magadha kingdom.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Jarāsandha, moreover, mistakenly thought that Balarāma and Keśava had burned to death in the fire. Thus he withdrew his vast military force and returned to the Magadha kingdom.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The phrase bala-keśavau (strong Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, killer of Keśī) indicate their great ability since they completely disregarded Jarāsandha’s forces even though they were formidable (su-mahan). This disregard for Jarāsandha also nourishes the exciting gallantry by which he abducted Rukmiṇī and gave joy to her. Why did Jarāsandha not take Mathurā which was greatly purifying and live there? As a person from Magadha he had a taste for the people of lower natures. Thus, even in fleeing Kṛṣṇa was actually victorious, since Jarāsandha could not catch him even with numerous troops and chariots, and then he jumped from the mountain, surpassing them all.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
Bala means he who has great power. Keśava means he who covers (va) Brahmā (ka) and Śiva (īśa) with his glory. Thus Kṛṣṇa cannot be killed since he is the supreme Lord. He had complete disregard for Jarāsandha. This disregard for Jarāsandha was also for giving Rukmiṇī joy and marrying her, by conquering all enemies.