dvai-rathe sa tu jetavyo
mÄ Å›atÄká¹£auhiṇī-yutaḥ
brÄhmaṇyo 'bhyarthito viprair
na pratyÄkhyÄti karhicit
dvai-rathe - in combat involving only two chariots; saḥ - he; tu - but; jetavyaḥ - is to be defeated; mÄ - not; Å›ata - by one hundred; aká¹£auhiṇī - military divisions; yutaḥ - joined; brÄhmaṇyaḥ - devoted to brahminical culture; abhyarthitaḥ - entreated; vipraiḥ - by brÄhmaṇas; na pratyÄkhyÄti - does not refuse; karhicit - ever.
He will be defeated in a match of single chariots, not when he is with his hundred military divisions. Now, JarÄsandha is so devoted to brahminical culture that he never refuses requests from brÄhmaṇas.
It might be argued that since only BhÄ«ma could equal JarÄsandha in personal strength, JarÄsandha would be more powerful when supported by his huge army. Therefore, Uddhava here recommends single combat. But how could JarÄsandha be persuaded to give up the support of his powerful army? Here Uddhava gives the clue: JarÄsandha will never refuse a request from brÄhmaṇas, since he is devoted to brahminical culture.
