Chapter 72 · Class prep
A printable handout for teaching this chapter. For each verse with Personal Guidance, you'll see Prabhupāda's translation, the essence, two or three practical applications, and a discussion prompt. Press ⌘P / Ctrl P to print as a handout.
BG 72.1-2
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: One day, as King Yudhiṣṭhira sat in the royal assembly surrounded by eminent sages, brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, and also by his brothers, spiritual masters, family elders, blood relations, in-laws and friends, he addressed Lord Kṛṣṇa as everyone listened.
Essence. Yudhiṣṭhira spoke to Kṛṣṇa publicly, in the presence of sages, elders, family, friends. Important spiritual decisions deserve a witnessing community; private good intentions tend to drift.
BG 72.3
Śrī Yudhiṣṭhira said: O Govinda, I desire to worship Your auspicious, opulent expansions by the Rājasūya sacrifice, the king of Vedic ceremonies. Please make our endeavor a success, my Lord.
Essence. Yudhiṣṭhira desired to worship Kṛṣṇa's auspicious expansions by the Rājasūya. Real worship is offered specifically — to recognizable forms and aspects of the Lord — not vaguely.
BG 72.4
Purified persons who constantly serve, meditate upon and glorify Your shoes, which destroy everything inauspicious, are sure to obtain freedom from material existence, O lotus-naveled one. Even if they desire something in this world, they obtain it, whereas others — those who do not take shelter of You — are never satisfied, O Lord.
Essence. Purified persons who serve and meditate on the Lord's feet obtain even worldly desires; others remain dissatisfied. Bhakti is a complete solution, not a renunciation of legitimate needs.
BG 72.5
Therefore, O Lord of lords, let the people of this world see the power of devotional service rendered to Your lotus feet. Please show them, O almighty one, the position of those Kurus and Sṛñjayas who worship You, and the position of those who do not.
Essence. Yudhiṣṭhira asked the Lord to show publicly the difference between those who worship Him and those who do not. He had a preacher's heart — wanting others to see what he had seen.
BG 72.6
Within Your mind there can be no such differentiation as “This one is mine, and that is another’s,” because You are the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Soul of all beings, always equipoised and enjoying transcendental happiness within Yourself. Just like the heavenly desire tree, You bless all who properly worship You, granting their desired fruits in proportion to the service they render You. There is nothing wrong in this.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa, like a desire tree, blesses everyone equally in proportion to their service. There is no favoritism in His mind; the apparent unfairness in our results reflects the variety in our offerings.
BG 72.7
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Your decision is perfect, O King, and thus your noble fame will spread to all the worlds, O tormentor of your enemies.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa praised Yudhiṣṭhira's decision: 'Your noble fame will spread to all worlds.' The Lord blesses with words before action; encouragement is itself a divine gift.
BG 72.8
Indeed, My lord, for the great sages, the forefathers and the demigods, for Our well-wishing friends and, indeed, for all living beings, the performance of this king of Vedic sacrifices is desirable.
Essence. Sages, forefathers, demigods, friends, and all living beings benefit from a great sacrifice. Genuine acts of worship ripple outward, helping beings we will never meet.
BG 72.9
First conquer all kings, bring the earth under your control and collect all the required paraphernalia; then execute this great sacrifice.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa advised: first conquer all kings, then bring the earth under your control, then perform the sacrifice. Great acts need preparation; we do not start with the ceremony, we earn the right to it.
BG 72.10
These brothers of yours, O King, have taken birth as partial expansions of the demigods ruling various planets. And you are so self-controlled that you have conquered even Me, who am unconquerable for those who cannot control their senses.
Essence. The Pāṇḍava brothers are partial demigod expansions, and Yudhiṣṭhira's self-control has even 'conquered' Kṛṣṇa. The Lord allows Himself to be won by the self-controlled devotee.
BG 72.11
No one in this world, even a demigod — what to speak of an earthly king — can defeat My devotee with his strength, beauty, fame or riches.
Essence. No one — not even a demigod — can defeat the Lord's devotee in strength, beauty, fame, or wealth. Devotional standing is the only standing that cannot be taken away.
BG 72.12
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Upon hearing these words sung by the Supreme Lord, King Yudhiṣṭhira became joyful, and his face blossomed like a lotus. Thus he sent forth his brothers, who were empowered with Lord Viṣṇu’s potency, to conquer all directions.
Essence. Yudhiṣṭhira's face blossomed like a lotus on hearing the Lord's words; he then sent his brothers to conquer the directions. Joy authorized by Kṛṣṇa becomes the energy for service.
BG 72.13
He sent Sahadeva to the south with the Sṛñjayas, Nakula to the west with the Matsyas, Arjuna to the north with the Kekayas, and Bhīma to the east with the Madrakas.
Essence. Each brother was sent to the direction he was best suited for. Distribution of labor according to gift, not equality of task, is wise leadership.
BG 72.14
After defeating many kings with their prowess, these heroic brothers brought back abundant wealth for Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, who was intent on performing the sacrifice, O King.
Essence. The brothers brought back abundant wealth — but the purpose was to inform other kings of Yudhiṣṭhira's intention, not provoke war. Even strong action can be done with peaceful purpose.
BG 72.15
When King Yudhiṣṭhira heard that Jarāsandha remained undefeated, he set to pondering, and then the primeval Lord, Hari, told him the means Uddhava had described for defeating Jarāsandha.
Essence. Jarāsandha remained unconquered, so Kṛṣṇa told Yudhiṣṭhira the plan Uddhava had described. Sometimes the next move is already known to the Lord; we just have to ask Him.
BG 72.16
Thus Bhīmasena, Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa disguised themselves as brāhmaṇas and went to Girivraja, my dear King, where the son of Bṛhadratha was to be found.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa, Bhīma, and Arjuna went disguised as brāhmaṇas to Girivraja. The Lord Himself accompanies the work, not just sending devotees; He is in the field with them.
BG 72.17
Disguised as brāhmaṇas, the royal warriors approached Jarāsandha at home during the appointed hour for receiving guests. They submitted their entreaty to that dutiful householder, who was especially respectful to the brahminical class.
Essence. They approached Jarāsandha during his guest-receiving hour, knowing him to be a dutiful householder respectful of brāhmaṇas. Even an enemy can have virtues that one can rightly engage.
BG 72.18
[Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīma said:] O King, know us to be needy guests who have come to you from afar. We wish all good unto you. Please grant us whatever we desire.
Essence. 'O King, know us to be needy guests come from afar. Please grant us whatever we desire.' Honest framing of one's need is a beginning; we do not have to disguise our asking.
BG 72.19
What can the tolerant not bear? What will the wicked not do? What will the generous not give in charity? And who will those of equal vision see as an outsider?
Essence. 'What will the tolerant not bear? The generous not give? The equal-visioned not see as their own?' Each virtue, fully embraced, removes a kind of refusal from the heart.
BG 72.20
He indeed is to be censured and pitied who, though able to do so, fails to achieve with his temporary body the lasting fame glorified by great saints.
Essence. The one who, though able, fails to achieve lasting fame with this temporary body is to be pitied. The body is brief; what we do with it can be permanent. The waste is the tragedy.
BG 72.21
Hariścandra, Rantideva, Uñchavṛtti Mudgala, Śibi, Bali, the legendary hunter and pigeon, and many others have attained the permanent by means of the impermanent.
Essence. Hariścandra, Rantideva, Mudgala, Śibi, Bali — all achieved the permanent through the impermanent. The body is the vehicle, not the destination. They show us it can be done.
BG 72.22
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: From the sound of their voices, their physical stature and the marks of bowstrings on their forearms, Jarāsandha could tell that his guests were of the royal order. He began to think he had seen them somewhere before.
Essence. Jarāsandha guessed his guests were kṣatriyas from their voice, build, and bowstring marks. Even disguises leave clues; the careful observer reads the underlying reality.
BG 72.23
[Jarāsandha thought:] These are surely members of the royal order dressed as brāhmaṇas, but still I must grant their request for charity, even if they beg me for my own body.
Essence. Jarāsandha decided to grant their request even if they asked for his own body. Commitment to a principle is tested not by easy requests but by hard ones.
BG 72.24-25
Indeed, the spotless glories of Bali Mahārāja are heard throughout the world. Lord Viṣṇu, wishing to recover Indra’s opulence from Bali, appeared before him in the guise of a brāhmaṇa and made him fall from his powerful position. Though aware of the ruse and forbidden by his guru, Bali, king of the demons, still gave Viṣṇu the whole earth in charity.
Essence. Bali gave Viṣṇu the whole earth, knowing the ruse and forbidden by his guru. Some giving is so radical it appears foolish — and it produces glories whose echo never dies.
BG 72.26
What is the use of an unqualified kṣatriya who goes on living but fails to gain everlasting glory by working with his perishable body for the benefit of brāhmaṇas?
Essence. An unqualified kṣatriya who lives without gaining lasting glory for brāhmaṇas wastes his post. Every role has its highest expression; living below that is the real failure.
BG 72.27
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus making up his mind, the generous Jarāsandha addressed Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīma: “O learned brāhmaṇas, choose whatever you wish. I will give it to you, even if it is my own head.”
Essence. 'O learned brāhmaṇas, choose whatever you wish — even my own head.' Generosity given without reservation invites destiny to take us seriously.
BG 72.28
The Supreme Lord said: O exalted King, give us battle in the form of a duel, if you think it fitting. We are princes and have come to beg a fight. We have no other request to make of you.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa revealed the request: 'Give us battle.' Some asks reveal themselves only after trust has been established. Honesty has its own pacing.
BG 72.29
Over there is Bhīma, son of Pṛthā, and this is his brother Arjuna. Know Me to be their maternal cousin, Kṛṣṇa, your enemy.
Essence. 'This is Bhīma, this is Arjuna, and I am Kṛṣṇa your enemy.' Once the disguise has served its purpose, identity is revealed cleanly. There is no shame in having approached in plain dress.
BG 72.30
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus challenged, Magadharāja laughed out loud and contemptuously said, “All right, you fools, I’ll give you a fight!
Essence. Jarāsandha laughed contemptuously: 'All right, you fools, I'll give you a fight!' Pride mistakes its own ridicule for strength. Laughter at others rarely reads the situation correctly.
BG 72.31
“But I will not fight with You, Kṛṣṇa, for You are a coward. Your strength abandoned You in the midst of battle, and You fled Your own capital of Mathurā to take shelter in the sea.
Essence. Jarāsandha refused to fight Kṛṣṇa: 'You are a coward — You fled Mathurā for the sea.' Misreading the Lord's strategic withdrawals as cowardice is one of the oldest mistakes of the proud.
BG 72.32
“As for this one, Arjuna, he is not as old as I, nor is he very strong. Since he is no match for me, he should not be the contender. Bhīma, however, is as strong as I am.”
Essence. Jarāsandha chose Bhīma as a worthy opponent and dismissed Arjuna as no match. Real warriors take seriously who is in front of them; underestimating costs everything.
BG 72.33
Having said this, Jarāsandha offered Bhīmasena a huge club, took up another himself and went outside the city.
Essence. Jarāsandha handed Bhīma a huge club, took another, and went outside the city. The honorable opponent gives his enemy a fair tool; the contest's fairness reflects character.
BG 72.34
The two heroes thus began battling each other on the level fighting grounds outside the city. Maddened with the fury of combat, they struck each other with their lightning-bolt-like clubs.
Essence. Bhīma and Jarāsandha fought maddened with the fury of combat. Real struggle is not stylized; the actual contest of dharma against adharma engages the whole being.
BG 72.35
As they skillfully circled left and right, like actors dancing on a stage, the fight presented a magnificent spectacle.
Essence. Circling left and right like actors on a stage, the fight was a magnificent spectacle. Even bitter contests have beauty when both parties show their training. Excellence is its own form of dharma.
BG 72.36
When Jarāsandha’s and Bhīmasena’s clubs loudly collided, O King, the sound was like the impact of the big tusks of two fighting elephants, or the crash of a thunderbolt in a flashing electrical storm.
Essence. Their clubs collided like elephant tusks, like thunderbolts. When equal forces meet, the sound itself shakes the surroundings. Such contests cannot be hidden.
BG 72.37
They swung their clubs at each other with such speed and force that as the clubs struck their shoulders, hips, feet, hands, thighs and collarbones, the weapons were crushed and broken like branches of arka trees with which two enraged elephants furiously attack each other.
Essence. Their clubs shattered like arka branches against the impact of fully committed combat. Tools wear out when the contest is real; we should not be surprised when our methods break.
BG 72.38
Their clubs thus ruined, those great heroes among men angrily pummeled each other with their iron-hard fists. As they slapped each other, the sound resembled the crash of elephants colliding or harsh thunderclaps.
Essence. With clubs ruined, they used iron-hard fists, slapping like elephants colliding. When weapons fail, the bare body must serve. Spiritual struggle eventually comes to what we are willing to embody.
BG 72.39
As they thus fought, this contest between opponents of equal training, strength and stamina reached no conclusion. And so they kept on fighting, O King, without any letup.
Essence. Equal in training, strength, and stamina, the contest reached no conclusion. Some matters cannot be settled by force alone; we need a different kind of insight to break the deadlock.
BG 72.40
Lord Kṛṣṇa knew the secret of His enemy Jarāsandha’s birth and death, and also how he had been given life by the demoness Jarā. Considering all this, Lord Kṛṣṇa imparted His special power to Bhīma.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa knew the secret of Jarāsandha's two-part birth and imparted His special power to Bhīma. The Lord's intimate knowledge of an opponent's structure is what makes Bhīma's strength effective.
BG 72.41
Having determined how to kill the enemy, that Lord of infallible vision made a sign to Bhīma by tearing in half a small branch of a tree.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa signaled Bhīma by tearing a small branch in two. Sometimes the Lord's guidance is gesture, not speech — a small visible sign that meaningful only to the prepared eye.
BG 72.42
Understanding this sign, mighty Bhīma, the best of fighters, seized his opponent by the feet and threw him to the ground.
Essence. Reading the sign, Bhīma seized Jarāsandha by the feet and threw him to the ground. Right understanding turns instantly into right action; comprehension that does not move is incomplete.
BG 72.43
Bhīma pressed down on one leg with his foot while grabbing Jarāsandha’s other leg in his hands, and just as a great elephant might break the branch of a tree, Bhīma tore Jarāsandha apart from the anus upward.
Essence. Bhīma tore Jarāsandha apart from the anus upward, undoing the joining of his two halves. The structural undoing of the opponent matched the structural truth of his origin. Liberation often follows accurate diagnosis.
BG 72.44
The King’s subjects then saw him lying in two separate pieces, each with a single leg, thigh, testicle, hip, shoulder, arm, eye, eyebrow and ear, and with half a back and chest.
Essence. The subjects saw the king in two pieces — each with single leg, eye, eyebrow, half a back. The dramatic image fixes in memory what abstract victory could not.
BG 72.45
With the death of the lord of Magadha, a great cry of lamentation arose, while Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa congratulated Bhīma by embracing him.
Essence. A great cry of lamentation arose, while Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa embraced Bhīma. Victory comes with mixed feeling — sorrow for the defeated, celebration for the freed. Mature joy holds both.
BG 72.46
The immeasurable Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sustainer and benefactor of all living beings, coronated Jarāsandha’s son, Sahadeva, as the new ruler of the Magadhas. The Lord then freed all the kings Jarāsandha had imprisoned.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa coronated Jarāsandha's son Sahadeva and freed the imprisoned kings — without claiming the throne. The Lord's victories restore the proper order; He does not consolidate power for Himself.