Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.50.31
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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vāruṇa
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with the ropes of Varuṇa
Pāśa — noose. Varuṇa-pāśa is the dharmic binding-weapon of the water-god, used at SB 10.28 to bind Nanda. Mentioning it here recalls Kṛṣṇa's release of His own father from Varuṇa earlier — but now Balarāma is the binder.
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govindaḥ
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Lord Kṛṣṇa
Cowherd-name preserved even at the moment of releasing an enemy king. The intervention is from Govinda, not from the warrior — the gentleness of Vraja remains the underlying texture even of Mathurā warfare.
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kārya-cikīrṣayā
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desiring to fulfill a purpose
Compound: kārya (task) + cikīrṣā (desiderative of √kṛ — wish-to-do). Kṛṣṇa restrains Balarāma because the kārya of Jarāsandha is not finished. The demon will gather sixteen more armies for harvest, and eventually deliver the cohort that Bhīma will dismantle.
The word hatārātim means “who has killed his enemies,” or “through whom his enemies would be killed.” Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī has provided this thoughtful note.
Balarama tied up Jarasandha, his enemy who was almost dead (hata aratim). With a desire to let Jarasandha repeatedly gather together the armies who were a burden to the earth and should be killed, Govinda prevented Balarama from doing so.
He tied him with ordinary ropes to insult him. As protector of the earth (govindaḥ), Kṛṣṇa stopped Balarāma because he had a desire to gather together the burden of the earth to kill them through Jarāsandha (tena). “He is a king and a relative. Though he has committed great offense, he should be freed.” He then freed Jarāsandha from Balarāma. Bhītārthānāṁ bhaya-hetuḥ: verbs indicating fear or protection from danger take the ablative case for the cause of fear. (Pāṇini 1.4.25) The Kṛṣṇa protected (vārayām āsa) Jarāsandha (accusative case) from Balarāma.
Balarāma bound him with earthly and divine ropes in order to tie him firmly and insult him. Or he bound him with earthly ropes which were similar to heavenly ones. This means they were very tight ropes. As protector of the earth (govindaḥ), Kṛṣṇa prevented Balarāma because he had a desire to gather together the burden of the earth to kill them through Jarāsandha (tena). Jarāsandha would go here and there and gather many troops. Then it would be easy to kill them all. Kṛṣṇa prevented him from binding Jarāsandha.
- Where does Kṛṣṇa keep a 'live opponent' in your life for purposes you don't yet see?
- How do you hold the appearance of unfinished business with theological patience?
Balarāma starts binding Jarāsandha with Varuṇa's noose and ordinary ropes — and Govinda stops Him. The Lord has further use of Jarāsandha; the demon will become the unwitting harvester of future armies for Kurukṣetra. Even his release is part of the harvest-plan.
My note
Source: vedabase.io