Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.54.15
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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phalgu-tantraiḥ
—
with a meager entourage
Phalgu (insignificant, faint) + tantra (apparatus, entourage). The same root phalgu is the name of the dry river at Gayā — externally small, internally sacred. The Yadus look phalgu, but house the Lord.
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kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ
—
protected by Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa + pālita (protected). The exact phrase that defines a devotee: not by self-strength but by Kṛṣṇa's pālana. Cf. BG 9.22, 'yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham.' This is the verse's secret theology, hidden in an enemy's lament.
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vīra-yūtha-pa-yūtha-pāḥ
—
leaders of leaders of heroes
Triple compound: vīra (hero) + yūthapa (leader) + yūthapa (leader again). Kings of kings of warriors. The grammatical pile-up of titles only sharpens the irony — all these stacked dignities defeated by Kṛṣṇa's 'few.'
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parājitāḥ
—
defeated
Same word as v. 13 — but now in the plural, owned by all the kings. The repetition is Vyāsa underscoring: this is not Jarāsandha's quirk; it is the universal asurika condition.
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yadubhiḥ
—
by the Yadus
Instrumental plural. Even when Kṛṣṇa Himself fights, the credit is given to His devotees. That is Bhagavān's signature courtesy — the Lord makes His servants the apparent agents.
I was defeated by the Yadus who had meager troops.
Summarizing, he hides his real shame and suffering. You can see this effect operating now (adhunāpi). He speaks in the plural to indicate all the warriors present, or this verse can be spoken by all the warriors. All of us have been defeated. In this verse he uses the name Kṛṣṇa in order to show disrespect.
All the kings speak together to comfort him since it is later said that ḥe was persuaded by his friends. We were defeated. Or Jarāsandha speaks but indicates all the kings present. Though we were leaders of leaders of armies—most valorous, we were defeated by the Yadus protected by the son of a cowherd. This indicates the Yadus’ inferior status.
Like a great lake covered by morning mist — the kings cannot see that the 'meager entourage' of Yadus is Kṛṣṇa-pālita, sheltered by the Lord, and therefore unconquerable. Numbers count nothing where Bhagavān stands as canopy.
My note
Source: vedabase.io