evam -- in this way; sapta-dasa -- seventeen; kritvah -- times; tavati -- even thus (being defeated); akshauhini -- consisting of entire divisions; balah -- His military strength; yuyudhe -- fought; magadhah raja -- the King of Magadha; yadubhih -- with the Yadus; krishna-palitaih -- protected by Krishna.

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