Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.50.7-8
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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bhāram
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a burden
Bhū-bhāra: the earth's burden. The same doctrinal phrase appears at SB 1.7 and at the opening of the Kurukṣetra narrative. Kṛṣṇa's mission has two ends — protect the sādhus, lift the bhāra — and Jarāsandha is being used as a collector.
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haniṣyāmi
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I will kill
Future of √han with the army as object — but explicitly not Jarāsandha. Kṛṣṇa's omniscience here is on display: He already sees the seventeen future sieges and the eighteenth Kālayavana episode, and Bhīma's eventual splitting of Jarāsandha.
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na hantavyaḥ
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should not be killed
Gerundive — 'not to-be-killed.' A deliberate līlā restraint. Compare Kṛṣṇa sparing Aśvatthāmā's life later: the Lord chooses His moments. Death by Kṛṣṇa's hand is itself a benediction, and He does not bestow it on Jarāsandha here.
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bhū-bhujām
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of the kings
Contiguous join (bhū + bhuj — 'earth-enjoyers'). Jarāsandha is a vasal-overlord; the smaller kings come into the net behind him. Kṛṣṇa's plan is to clear the whole vassal-system through repeated sieges, not by single combat with Jarāsandha.
After due consideration, Lord Kṛṣṇa decided that since He had descended to the earth to destroy the demons, and since Jarāsandha was so enthusiastic to bring all the demons to the Lord’s front door, it was definitely more efficient to keep Jarāsandha alive and busy.
"I will destroy all of this army which is a burden to the earth. Jarasandha should not be killed because he will eagerly gather another army (balam)."
His thoughts are described. I will destroy these armies (balam) because (hi) gathered together they are a great burden for the earth, brought together in complete unity with enthusiasm (samānītam) and under control (vaśyānām). However the Pāṇḍavas and Bhīṣma were not there. Because of the great numbers, the foot soldiers, chariots and elephants could not be individually counted.
His thoughts are described. I will destroy these armies (balam) because (hi) gathered together they are a great burden for the earth, brought together in complete unity with enthusiasm (samānītam) and under control (vaśyānām). Jarāsandha had control of all the kings by his great power. Pratāpāvanatā ye ca jarāsandhasya pārthivāḥ Mitrāṇi jñātayaś caiva saṁyutāḥ suhṛdās tathā Tamevānuyayuḥ sarve sainyaiḥ samudiatair nṛpāḥ Maheṣvāsā mahāvīryā jarāsandha hitaiṣiṇaḥ Jarāsandha had powerful kings, friends, relatives and associates. The courageous kings, great archers, followed him with all their troops since they were well-wishers. The Pāṇḍavas and Bhīṣma did not come there. Because of the great numbers, the foot soldiers, chariots and elephants could not be individually counted. He will again raise an army for battle by his power rulership (balodyamam).
- Where do you plan in vague generalities when an itemized inventory would help?
- What specific 'army' would you ask Kṛṣṇa to dismantle?
The Lord, looking at the assembled army, sees not 23 divisions of soldiers but a single heap of bhū-bhāra collected for Him by Jarāsandha — and decides to spare the gatherer so that he will keep gathering. The demon becomes Kṛṣṇa's reluctant servant.
My note
Source: vedabase.io