# जरासन्ध (jarāsandha)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/jarasandha

जरासन्ध (jarāsandha) is a Sanskrit word meaning a celebrated king of Magadha slain by Bhima, a proper name, a son of Dhritarashtra, a son of Nabhasa and a powerful conqueror of all Kshatriyas. Its 7 recorded definitions are grouped into 3 contexts, among them Jarāsandha, King of Magadha, Jarāsandha, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Jarāsandha, son of Nabhasa.

- **Etymology:** E. जरा a female demon, and सन्ध connection, union; he was born in two halves, which were put together by the Rākṣasī JARĀ — E. jarā a female demon, and sandha connection, union; he was born in two halves, which were put together by the Rākṣasī JARĀ
- **SLP1:** `jarAsanDa`  **IAST:** jarāsandha  **Devanagari:** जरासन्ध
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarasandha
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/jarasandha/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** जरासंध (jarāsaṃdha)

## Meanings by context

### Jarāsandha, King of Magadha (5 definitions)
- A celebrated king of Magadha slain by Bhima.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > जरा (jarā) सन्ध (sandha) (jarāsandha) [Printed book page 342 ] जरा (jarā) सन्ध (sandha) (jarāsandha) m. ( - न्धः (-ndhaḥ) ) A proper name, a celebrated king and warrior, sovereign of Magadha, father-in-law to KAṂSA, and foe to KṚṢṆA; he was slain in single combat by BHĪMA. E. जरा (jarā) a female demon, and सन्ध (sandha) connection, union; he was born in two halves, which were put together by the Rākṣasī JARĀ. [ ID=15949 ]
- a proper name  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > जरासन्ध (jarāsandha) [Printed book page 300-b ] जरा - सन्ध (jarā-sandha) ( न्धः ) ((ndhaḥ)) 1. m. A proper name, the father-in-law of Kansa. [ ID=15410 ]
- A celebrated king of Magadha slain by Bhima.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > जरा (jarā) सन्ध (sandha) (jarāsandha) [Printed book page 283-a ] जरा (jarā) सन्ध (sandha) (jarāsandha) m. ( - न्धः (-ndhaḥ) ) A proper name, a celebrated king and warrior, sovereign of Magadha, father-in-law to KANSA, and foe to KṚṢṆA; he was slain in single combat by BHIMA. E. जरा (jarā) a female demon, and सन्ध (sandha) connection, union; he was born in two halves, which were put together by the Rakshasi JARA. [ ID=15920 ]
- A powerful king of Magadha, son of Brihadratha, who was born in two halves united by the rakshasi Jara, and was eventually slain in a wrestling duel by Bhima.  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > जरासन्ध (jarāsandha) [Printed book page 354-1 ] Jarāsandha 1, king of the Māgadhas, son of Bṛhadratha. § 4 (Anukram.): I, 1, 129, †153 ( Māgadhānāṃ variṣṭhaṃ ).— § 130 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 67, 2640 (incarnation of the Asura Vipracitti).—§ 232 (Svayaṃvarap.): I, 186, 7003 (present at the svayaṃvara of Draupadī).—§ 233 (do.): I, 187, 7030. —§ 273 (Rājasūyārambhap.): II, 14, 571, 574, 576, 582, 588, 589, 593, 599, 602, 608, 610, 618, 626, 628, 631, 633 ( J.'s great might, his allies; many peoples fled from fear of him; Kaṃsa married the daughters of J., Asti and Prāpti, who when he had been slain by Kṛṣṇa, urged J. to attack the Yādavas, who fled from Mathurā to Dvārakā; J. wor- shipped Śiva; the defeated kings he kept enclosed in Girivraja). —§ 274 (do.): II, 15, 641, 651 ( Bārhadrathaḥ ), 653, 655, 658, 659 (kept the kings in the temple of Śiva in order to sacrifice them, and must be defeated that Yudhiṣṭhira might perform his rājasūya); 16, 662, 673.—§ 275 (do.): II, 17, 686, 687 ( J.'s birth; the two wives of Bṛhadratha bore each one-half of a child; the Rākṣasī Jarā united the two halves); 18, 739 (because he had been united ( sandhitaḥ ) by Jarā he was named J.); 19, 756, 757, 758, 760 (after the slaughter of Kaṃsa, J. hurled a mace toward Mathurā).—§ 276 (Jarāsandhavadhap.): II, 20, 768, 778, 791 (Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, and Bhīma set out for Girivraja to slay J.); 21, 808, 815, 818, 819, 821, 824, 829, 835, 837, 839 (receives Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, and Bhīma disguised as brahmans); 22, (854), 865, (880), 884, 888 (challenged to fight, J. installed his son Sahadeva as king); 23, 890, 892 ( Māgadhaḥ ), 893, 894, 897, 898, 923, 924 (engaged in a wrestling encounter with Bhīmasena); 24, 925, 927, 928, 929, 932 (Bhīmasena at last killed J.), 935 (description of his chariot), 950, 955, 969, 972 ( kṣīṇe ), 975.—§ 289 (Arghāharaṇap.): II, 37, 1360 (had been slain by Kṛṣṇa(!)).—§ 290 (Śiśupālavadhap.): II, 42, 1474, 1475, 1476, 1478 (all. to § 277); 44, 1529 (had been vanquished by Karṇa in a wrestling encounter and slain ( ?dehabhedañ ca lambhitaḥ, cf. XII, 132)).—§ 307 Page354-b+ 63 (Anudyūtap.): II, 81, 2706 (had been slain by Bhīmasena).— § 315 (Maitreyaśāpa): III, 10, 371 (do.).—§ 317 b (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): III, 12, 489 (had been slain by Kṛṣṇa (!)).— § 561 (Yānasandhip.): V, 51, 2055 ( Māgadhendreṇa, had subdued the whole earth and had been slain by Bhīmasena).— § 567 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 130 ξ, 4411 (had been slain by Kṛṣṇa(!)).—§ 588 (Bhīṣmavadhap.): VI, 122, 5834 (could not vanquish Karṇa).—§ 589 (Droṇābhiṣekap.): VII, 11, 387 ( Kaṃsaḥ…J°ena pālitaḥ ), 393 ( °ṃ…Janārdanaḥ …ghātayām āsa ).—§ 600 (Ghaṭotkacavadhap.): VII, 180, †8210 (had been slain by Kṛṣṇa (!)); 181 δδ, 8213 (do.), 8217, 8220, 8224, 8225, 8227, 8228 ( J. hurled a mace against Balarāma, who baffled it with his Sthūṇākarṇa weapon; the mace fell down on earth and slew the Rākṣasī Jarā (who had united J.), together with her sons and relatives. Deprived of his mace, J. was afterwards slain by Bhīmasena).—§ 621 (Rājadh.): XII, 4 ε, 113 (present at the svayaṃvara of the daughter of the Kaliṅga king Citrāṅgada); 5, 129 ( rājā Māgadhaḥ, challenged Karṇa, who in a wrestling encounter vanquished him ( ?bibheda sandhiṃ dehasya Jarayā śleṣitasya hi, v. 132); J. then gave the town Mālinī to Karṇa).— § 717 b (Nārāyaṇīya): XII, 340, 12960 ( Asuraḥ sphīto bhūmipālo Girivraje, incarnate as Kṛṣṇa Nārāyaṇa will slay him).—§ 768 b (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): XIII, 147, 6839 (Kṛṣṇa will vanquish J. and liberate the imprisoned kings). —§ 788 (Āśramavāsap.): XV, 25, †668 ( Magadhādhipasya sutā J°a iti śrutasya, i.e. the wife of Sahadeva Pāṇḍava). Cf. Bārhadratha, Māgadha, Magadhādhipa, Magadhādhipati, Magadheśvara. [ ID=4807 ]
- A king of Magadha born in two parts, joined together by Jara, father of Sahadeva and father-in-law of Kamsa, who imprisoned thousands of kings at Girivraja and was ultimately killed in a wrestling duel by Bhima.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > जरासन्ध (jarāsandha) [Printed book page 1-639 ] Jarāsandha (I) — born to Bṛhadratha in two parts and cast away by the mother. Jarā (s.v.) joined them together, saying in sport ‘Live, Live’. It was Jarāsandha. He was father of Sahadeva. 1 King of Magadha and father-in-law of Kamśā who married his daughters Asti and Prāpti; acted as Kamśā's guru in his wicked plans. Heard of Kamśā's death from his widowed daughters and resolved to destroy all the Yādavas. He besieged Mathurā with twenty-three akṣau- hinis, stationing at the four gates king of Kalinga and others. Drums were sounded as a call to arms. Told Kṛṣṇa that he was a boy unfit to fight him and asked Rāma to meet him in battle. Rāma challenged him on the western gate. Finding all his army followers killed, Jarāsandha attacked Rāma. When the latter was about to bind him with ropes, Kṛṣṇa asked that he be set free. Jarāsandha went home greatly distressed. Three months after, Jarāsandha collected Page1-640+ 46 another huge army of twenty-three akṣauhinis, encamped at Yamunā banks and slept that night. Kṛṣṇa divided his army into three divisions and attacked the enemy on all sides by surprise. All Jarāsandha's followers took to flight leaving all their belongings which were presented to Ugra- sena. Then he called on Bāṇa at his city Śoṇitapura soliciting his help against the Yadus. Bāṇa's welcome and offer to help; with this force he again besieged Mathurā. Fight between him and Rāma. Defeat of Kumbhāṇḍa and retreat of Kūpa- karṇa and other soldiers of Bāṇa to their city. Jarāsan- dha's return to the city. 2 Felt angry at Śṛgāla's end and led another expedition to Mathurā. Defeat and return. In this way he led seven- teen expeditions. During the eighteenth expedition a cer- tain Yavana sent by Nārada besieged the city. 3 Jarāsandha attacked the Yadus going to Dvārakā after vanquishing the mlecchas by the formation of Makaravyūha when Kṛṣṇa destroyed it by throwing a big tree on it. Rāma also gave them mighty blows. Then he turned upon two brothers who were unarmed and who ran to Pravarṣaṇa hill. Jarāsandha followed them and burnt the hill by besieging it from all sides. The brothers leaped into the plains and regained Dvārakā, but were taken by their enemies to be burnt dead. His defeat at Kṛṣṇa's hands during the svayamvara of Ruk- miṇī is mentioned. Arrival at Kuṇḍina; went to Śiśupāla and comforted him that all was due to fate, and returned to his city. 4 His defeats were recalled by Kṛtavarman. 5 He had his capital at Girivraja, where thousands of kings were kept imprisoned. 6 A preliminary to Yudhiṣṭhīra's rājasūya was to kill Jarāsandha. Finding him unconquered and also devoted to Brahmaṇas, Kṛṣṇa, Bhīma and Arjuna went to him in Brahmana's guise and asked for meals. Jarāsandha understood them to be Kṣatriyas and still recalled Bali giv- ing the earth to Hari in a Brahmana's guise. So he offered to give his head. Then Kṛṣṇa and his two friends revealed themselves and invited him to battle. He refused to fight a Page1-641+ 25 coward who left Mathurā for a sea-girt-city, nor with un- equal Arjuna. But he agreed to fight with Bhīma. Then battle continued for 27 days and Bhīma felt despondent. Kṛṣṇa gave him a hint by tearing a twig behind. So Bhīma pulled him down and tore him to two pieces from head to foot. 7 One of those who failed to hit the fish in the svayam- vara of Lakṣmaṇā. 8 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. I. 15. 9; IX. 22. 7-8; M. 50. 31-32; 271. 18; Vi. IV. 19. 83-4; 23. 2-3.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. X. 36. 35; 50 (whole); also ch. 50 Vijaya (whole); chaps. 51-52 (V) Vi. V. 48 (whole).] [ Footnote: 3) Bhā. X. [53 (v) 22-24]; 50. 42-44; Vi. V. ch. 22.] [ Footnote: 4) Bhā. X. 52 (whole); 53. 17 and [34], 57; 54. 9-17; [56 (v) 6]; Vi. 26. 3 and 7; 37. 26.] [ Footnote: 5) Bhā. X. 57. 13.] [ Footnote: 6) Ib. X. 60. 18; 70. 23-24, 29.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. 71. 2[1], 3-4; 72. 15-47; 73. 31; 76. 2; Vā. 93. 27.] [ Footnote: 8) Bhā. X. 83. 23; Br. III. 68. 28; 74. 108.] [ ID=5080 ]

### Jarāsandha, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (1 definition)
- a son of Dhritarashtra  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > [Printed book page 354-2 ] Jarāsandha 2, a son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. § 130 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 67, 2735.—§ 182 (Dhṛtarāṣṭraputranāmak.): I, 117, 4548. [ ID=4808 ]

### Jarāsandha, son of Nabhasa (1 definition)
- A son of Nabhasa and a powerful conqueror of all Kshatriyas.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 1-641 ] Jarāsandha (II) — a son of Nabhasa; a powerful con- queror of all Kṣatriyas. Vā. 99. 226-7. [ ID=5081 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546