evam - in this way; sapta-daśa - seventeen; kṛtvaḥ - times; tāvati - even thus (being defeated); akṣauhiṇī - consisting of entire divisions; balaḥ - His military strength; yuyudhe - fought; māgadhaḥ rājā - the King of Magadha; yadubhiḥ - with the Yadus; kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ - protected by Kṛṣṇa.

Seventeen times the King of Magadha met defeat in this very way. And yet throughout these defeats he fought on with his akṣauhiṇī divisions against the forces of the Yadu dynasty who were protected by Śrī Kṛṣṇa.