The Mahabharata, of ,Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ,BOOK 2 ,SABHA PARVA ,
SECTION XXI

"Vasudeva said,--'behold, O Partha, the great capital of Magadha,

standing in all its beauty. Filled with flocks and herds and its stock of

water never exhausted, and adorned also with fine mansions standing in

excellent array, it is free from every kind of calamity. The five large

hills of Vaihara, Varaha, Vrishava, Rishigiri, and the delightful

Chaitya, all of high peaks and overgrown with tall trees of cool shade

and connected with one another, seem to be jointly protecting the city of

Girivraja. The breasts of the hills are concealed by forests of

delightful and fragrant Lodhras having the ends of their branches covered

with flowers. It was here that the illustrious Gautama of rigid vows

begat on the Sudra woman Ausinari (the daughter of Usinara) Kakshivat and

other celebrated sons. That the race sprung from Gautama doth yet live

under the sway of an ordinary human race (of monarchs) is only evidence

of Gautama's kindness to kings. And, O Arjuna, it was here that in olden

times the mighty monarchs of Anga, and Vanga and other countries, came to

the abode of Gautama, and passed their days in joy and happiness. Behold,

O Partha, those forests of delightful Pippalas and beautiful Lodhras

standing near the side of Gautama's abode. There dwelt in old days those

Nagas, Arvuda and Sakravapin, those persecutors of all enemies, as also

the Naga Swastika and that other excellent Naga called Manu. Manu himself

had ordered the country of the Magadhas to be never afflicted with

drought, and Kaushika and Manimat also have favoured the country. Owning

such a delightful and impregnable city, Jarasandha is ever bent on

seeking the fruition of his purposes unlike other monarchs. We shall,

however, by slaying him to-day humble his pride."

Vaisampayana said,--Thus saying those brothers of abundant energy, viz.,

he of the Vrishni race and the two Pandavas entered the city of Magadha.

They then approached towards the impregnable city of Girivraja that was

full of cheerful and well-fed inhabitants belonging to all the four

orders, and where festivities were perennial. On arriving then at the

gate of the city, the brothers (instead of passing through it) began to

pierce (with their shafts) the heart of the high Chaityaka peak that was

worshipped by the race of Vrihadratha, as also by the citizens and which

delighted the hearts of all the Magadhas. There Vrihadratha had slain a

cannibal called Rishava and having slain the monster made of his hide

three drums which he placed in his own city. And those drums were such

that once beaten their sound lasted one full month. And the brothers

broke down the Chaityaka peak that was delightful to all the Magadhas, at

that point where those drums covered with celestial flowers used to yield

their continuous sound. And desirous of slaying Jarasandha they seemed by

that act of theirs to place their feet upon the head of their foe. And

attacking with their mighty arms that immovable and huge and high and old

and celebrated peak always worshipped with perfumes and floral wreaths,

those heroes broke it down. And with joyful hearts they then entered the

city. And it so happened that the learned Brahmanas residing within the

city saw many evil omens which they reported to Jarasandha. And the

priest making the king mount an elephant whirled lighted brands about

him. And king Jarasandha also, possessed of great prowess, with a view to

warding of those evils, entered upon the celebration of a sacrifice, with

proper vows and fasts. Meanwhile, O Bharata, the brothers unarmed, or

rather with their bare arms as their only weapons, desirous of fighting

with Jarasandha, entered the capital in the guise of Brahmanas. They

beheld the extraordinary beauty of the shops full of various edibles and

floral wreaths, and supplied with articles of every variety of various

qualities that man can desire. Those best of men, Krishna, Bhima, and

Dhananjaya, beholding in those shops their affluence, passed along the

public road. And endued with great strength they snatched forcibly from

the flower-vendors the garlands they had exposed for sale. And attired in

robes of various colours and decked in garlands and ear-rings the heroes

entered the abode of Jarasandha possessed of great intelligence, like

Himalayan lions eyeing cattle-folds. And the arms of those warriors, O

king, besmeared with sandal paste, looked like the trunks of sala trees.

The people of Magadha, beholding those heroes looking like elephants,

with necks broad like those of trees and wide chests, began to wonder

much. Those bull among men, passing through three gates that were crowded

with men, proudly and cheerfully approached the king. And Jarasandha

rising up in haste received them with water to wash their feet with, and

honey and the other ingredients of the Arghya--with gifts of kine, and

with other forms of respect. The great king addressing them said,--'Ye

are welcome'! And, O Janamejaya, both Partha and Bhima remained silent at

this. And addressing the monarch Krishna said,--'O king of kings these

two are now in the observance of a vow. Therefore they will not speak.

Silent they will remain till midnight After that hour they will speak

with thee!' The king then quartering his guests in the sacrificial

apartments retired into his private chambers. And when midnight arrived,

the monarch arrived at the place where his guests attired as Brahmanas

were. For, O King, that ever victorious monarch observed this vow which

was known throughout the Worlds that as soon as he should hear of the

arrival of Snataka Brahmanas at his place, should it be even at midnight,

he would immediately, O Bharata, come out and grant them an audience.

Beholding the strange attire of his guests that best of kings wondered

much. For all that, however, he waited on them respectfully. Those bulls

among men, those slayers of all foes, on the other hand, O thou best of

the Bharata race, beholding king Jarasandha, said,--'Let salvation be

attained by thee, O king, without difficulty.' And, O tiger among kings,

having said this unto the monarch, they stood looking at each other. And,

O king of kings, Jarasandha then said unto those sons of Pandu and him of

the Yadu race, all disguised as Brahmanas--'Take your seats.' And those

bulls among men sat themselves down, and like the three priests of a

great sacrifice blazed forth in their beauty. And king Jarasandha, O thou

of the Kuru race, firmly devoted to truth, censuring the disguised

guests, said unto them,--'It is well known to me that in the whole world

Brahmanas in the observance of Snataka vow never deck their persons with

garlands and fragrant paste unseasonably. Who are ye, therefore, thus

decked with flowers, and with hands bearing the marks of the bow-string?

Attired in coloured robes and decked unseasonably with flowers and paste,

ye give me to understand that ye are Brahmanas, although ye bear

Kshatriya energy. Tell me truly who ye are. Truth decks even kings.

Breaking down the peak of the Chaityaka hill, why have ye, in disguise,

entered (the city) by an improper gate without fear of the royal wrath?

The energy of a Brahmana dwelleth in his speech, (not in act). This your

feat is not suited to the order to which ye profess to belong. Tell us

therefore, the end ye have in view. Arrived here by such an improper way,

why accept ye not the worship I offer? What is your motive for coming to

me? Thus addressed by the king, the high-souled Krishna, well-skilled in

speech, thus replied unto the monarch in a calm and grave voice.

"Krishna said,--'O king, know us for Snataka Brahmanas. Brahmanas and

Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are all, O monarch, competent to observe the vow

of Snataka. This vow, besides, hath (many) especial and general rules. A

Kshatriya observing this vow with especial rules always achieve

prosperity. Therefore, have we decked ourselves with flowers. Kshatriyas

again, O king, exhibit their energy by their arms and not in speech. It

is, therefore, O son of Vrihadratha, that the speeches uttered by a

Kshatriya are never audacious. O monarch, the creator hath planted his

own energy in the aim of the Kshatriya. If thou wishest to behold it,

thou shalt certainly behold it today. These are the rules of the

ordinance, viz., that an enemy's abode should be entered through a wrong

gate and a friend's abode through the right one. And know, O monarch,

that this also is our eternal vow that having entered the foe's abode for

the accomplishment of our purpose, we accept not the worship offered to

us!"

SECTION XXII

"Jarasandha said,--'I do not recollect if I ever acted injuriously

towards ye! Even upon a careful mental scrutiny I fail to see the injury

I did unto ye. When I have never done ye an injury, why, ye Brahmanas do

ye regard me, who am innocent, as your foe? O, answer me truly, for this,

indeed, is the rule followed by the honest. The mind is pained at the

injury to one's pleasure and morality. That Kshatriya who injures an

innocent man's (sources of) pleasure and morality even if he be otherwise

a great warrior and well-versed in all rules of morality, obtains,

without any doubt the fate of sinners (hereafter) and falls off from

prosperity. The practices of the Kshatriyas are the best of those that

are honest in the three worlds Indeed, those that are acquainted with

morality applaud the Kshatriya practices. Adhering to those practices of

my order with steady soul, I never injure those that are under me. In

bringing this charge, therefore, against me, it appears that ye speak

erroneously!'

"Krishna said,--'O thou of mighty arms, there is a certain person of the

head of a (royal) line who upholdeth the dignity of his race At his

command have we come against thee. Thou hast brought, O king, many of the

Kshatriyas of the world as captives (to thy city.) Having perpetrated

that wicked wrong how dost thou regard thyself as innocent? O best of

monarchs, how can a king act wrongfully towards other virtuous kings? But

thou, O king, treating other kings with cruelty, seekest to offer them as

sacrifice unto the god Rudra! O son of Vrihadratha, this sin committed by

thee may touch even us, for as we are virtuous in our practices, we are

capable of protecting virtue. The slaughter of human being as sacrifice

unto the gods is never seen. Why dost thou, therefore, seek to perform a

sacrifice unto god Sankara by slaughtering human beings? Thou art

addressing persons belonging to thy own order as animals (fit for

sacrifice)! Fool as thou art, who else, O Jarasandha, is capable of

behaving in this way? One always obtaineth the fruits of whatever acts

one performeth under whatever circumstances. Therefore, desirous as we

are of helping all distressed people, we have, for the prosperity of our

race, come hither to slay thee, the slaughterer of our relatives. Thou

thinkest that there is no man among the Kshatriyas (equal to thee). This,

O king, is a great error of judgment on thy part. What Kshatriya is

there, O king, who endued with greatness of soul and recollecting the

dignity of his own parentage, would not ascend to eternal heaven that

hath not its like anywhere, falling in open fight? Know O bull among men,

that Kshatriyas engage themselves in battle, as persons installed in

sacrifices, with heaven in view, and vanquish the whole world! Study of

the Vedas, great fame, ascetic penances, and death in battle, are all

acts that lead to heaven. The attainment of heaven by the three other

acts may be uncertain, but death in battle hath that for its certain

consequence. Death in battle is the sure cause of triumph like Indra's.

It is graced by numerous merits. It is for this reason that he of a

hundred sacrifices (Indra) hath become what he is, and by vanquishing the

Asuras he ruleth the universe. Hostility with whom else than thee is so

sure of leading to heaven, proud as thou art of the excessive strength of

thy vast Magadha host? Don't disregard others, O king. Valour dwelleth in

every man. O king of men, there are many men whose valour may be equal or

superior to thine. As long as these are not known, so long only art thou

noted for thy valour. Thy prowess, O king, can be borne by us. It is,

therefore, that I say so. O king of Magadha, cast off thy superiority and

pride in the presence of those that are thy equals. Go not, O king, with

thy children and ministers and army, into the regions of Yama.

Damvodhava, Kartavirya, Uttara, and Vrihadratha, were kings that met with

destruction, along with all their forces, for having disregarded their

superiors. Desirous of liberating the captive monarchs from thee, know

that we are certainly not Brahmanas. I am Hrishesha otherwise called

Sauri, and these two heroes among men are the sons of Pandu. O king of

Magadha, we challenge thee. Fight standing before us. Either set free all

the monarchs, or go thou to the abode of Yama.

"Jarasandha said,--'I never make a captive of a king without first

vanquishing him. Who hath been kept here that hath not been defeated in

war? This, O Krishna, it hath been said, is the duty that should be

followed by the Kshatriyas, viz., to bring others under sway by the

exhibition of prowess and then to treat them as slaves. Having gathered

these monarchs with the intention of offering them as sacrifices unto the

god, how shall I, O Krishna, from fear liberate them to-day, when I

recollect also the duty I have recited of a Kshatriya? With troops

against troops arrayed in order of battle, or alone against one, or

against two, or against three, at the same time or separately, I am ready

to fight.'"

Vaisampayana said,--"Having spoken thus, and desiring to fight with those

heroes of terrible achievements, king Jarasandha ordered (his son)

Sahadeva to be installed on the throne. Then, O bull of the Bharata race,

the king, on the eve of battle, thought of his two generals Kausika and

Chitrasena. These two, O king, were formerly called by everybody in the

world of men by the respectful appellations of Hansa and Dimvaka. And, O

monarch, that tiger among men, the lord Sauri ever devoted to truth, the

slayer of Madhu, the younger brother of Haladhara, the foremost of all

persons having their senses under complete control, keeping in view the

command of Brahma and remembering that the ruler of Magadha was destined

to be slain in battle by Bhima and not by the descendant of Madhu

(Yadavas), desired not to slay himself king Jarasandha, that foremost of

all men endued with strength, that hero possessed of the prowess of a

tiger, that warrior of terrible valour."

SECTION XXIII

Vaisampayana said,--'then that foremost of all speakers, Krishna of the

Yadava race, addressing king Jarasandha who was resolved upon fighting,

said,--'O king, with whom amongst us three dost thou desire to fight? Who

amongst us shall prepare himself for battle (with thee)?' Thus addressed,

the ruler of Magadha, king Jarasandha of great splendour, expressed his

desire for fighting with Bhima. The priest then, bringing with him the

yellow pigment obtained from the cow and garlands of flowers and other

auspicious articles, as also various excellent medicines for restoring

lost consciousness and alleviating pain, approached Jarasandha, panting

for battle. The king Jarasandha, on whose behalf propitiatory ceremonies

with benedictions were performed by a renowned Brahmana, remembering the

duty of a Kshatriya dressed himself for battle. Taking off his crown and

binding his hair properly, Jarasandha stood up like an ocean bursting its

continents. Then the monarch possessed of terrible prowess, addressing

Bhima. said, 'I will fight with thee. It is better to be vanquished by a

superior person.' And saying this, Jarasandha, that represser of all foes

endued, rushed with great energy at Bhimasena like the Asura Vala or old

who rushed at the chief of the celestials. And the mighty Bhimasena, on

whose behalf the gods had been invoked by Krishna, that cousin of his,

having consulted with advanced towards Jarasandha, impelled by the desire

of fight. Then those tigers among men, those heroes of great prowess,

with their bare arms as their only weapons, cheerfully engaged themselves

in the encounter, each desirous of vanquishing the other. And seizing

each other's arms and twining each other's legs, (at times) they slapped

their arm-pits, causing the enclosure to tremble at the sound. And

frequently seizing each other's necks with their hands and dragging and

pushing it with violence, and each pressing every limb of his body

against every limb of the other, they continued, O exalted one, to slap

their arm-pits (at time). And sometimes stretching their arms and

sometimes drawing them close, and now raising them up and now dropping

them down, they began to seize each other. And striking neck against neck

and forehead against forehead, they caused fiery sparks to come out like

flashes of lightning. And grasping each other in various ways by means of

their arms, and kicking each other with such violence as to affect the

innermost nerves, they struck at each other's breasts with clenched

fists. With bare arms as their only weapons roaring like clouds they

grasped and struck each other like two mad elephants encountering each

other with their trunks. Incensed at each other's blow, they fought on

dragging and pushing each other and fiercely looking at each other like

two wrathful lions. And each striking every limb of the other with his

own and using his arms also against the other, and catching hold of each

other's waist, they hurled each other to a distance. Accomplished in

wrestling, the two heroes clasping each other with their arms and each

dragging the other unto himself, began to press each other with great

violence. The heroes then performed those grandest of all feats in

wrestling called Prishtabhanga, which consisted in throwing each other

down with face towards the earth and maintaining the one knocked down in

that position as long as possible. And employing his arms, each also

performed the feats called Sampurna-murchcha and Purna-kumbha. At times

they twisted each other's arms and other limbs as if these were vegetable

fibres that were to be twisted into chords. And with clenched fists they

struck each other at times, pretending to aim at particular limbs while

the blows descended upon other parts of the body. It was thus that those

heroes fought with each other. The citizens consisting of thousands, of

Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras, and even women and the

aged, O tiger among men, came out and gathered there to behold the fight.

And the crowd became so great that it was one solid mass of humanity with

no space between body and body. The sound the wrestlers made by the

slapping of their arms, the seizing of each other's necks for bringing

each other down, and the grasping of each other's legs for dashing each

other to the ground, became so loud that it resembled the roar of thunder

or of falling cliffs. Both of them were foremost of mighty men, and both

took great delight in such encounter. Desirous of vanquishing the other,

each was on the alert for taking advantage of the slightest lapse of the

other. And, O monarch, the mighty Bhima and Jarasandha fought terribly on

in those lists, driving the crowd at times by the motions of their hands

like Vritra and Vasava of old. Thus two heroes, dragging each other

forward and pressing each other backward and with sudden jerks throwing

each other face downward and sideways, mangled each other dreadfully. And

at times they struck each other with their knee-joints. And addressing

each other loudly in stinging speeches, they struck each other with

clenched fists, the blows descending like a mass of stone upon each

other. With broad shoulders and long arms and both well-skilled in

wrestling encounters, they struck each other with those long arms of

theirs that were like maces of iron. That encounter of the heroes

commenced on the first (lunar) day of the month of Kartic (October) and

the illustrious heroes fought on without intermission and food, day and

night, till the thirteenth lunar day. It was on the night of the

fourteenth of the lunar fortnight that the monarch of Magadha desisted

from fatigue. And O king, Janardana beholding the monarch tired,

addressed Bhima of terrible deeds, and as if to stimulate him said,--'O

son of Kunti, a foe that is fatigued cannot be pressed for if pressed at

such a time he may even die. Therefore, O son of Kunti, this king should

not be oppressed by thee. On the other hand, O bull of the Bharata race,

fight with him With thy arms, putting forth as much strength only as thy

antagonist hath now left!' Then that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of

Pandu, thus addressed by Krishna, understood the plight of Jarasandha and

forthwith resolved upon taking his life. And that foremost of all men

endued with strength, that prince of the Kuru race, desirous of

vanquishing the hitherto unvanquished Jarasandha, mustered all his

strength and courage."

SECTION XXIV

Vaisampayana said,--"thus addressed, Bhima firmly resolved upon slaying

Jarasandha, replied unto Krishna of the Yadu race, saying,--O tiger of

the Yadu race, O Krishna, this wretch that yet stayeth before me with

sufficient strength and bent upon fight, should not be forgiven by me.

Hearing these words of Vrikodara (Bhima), that tiger among men, Krishna,

desiring to encourage that hero to accomplish the death of Jarasandha

without any delay, answered,--'O Bhima, exhibit today upon Jarasandha the

strength thou hast luckily derived, the might thou hast obtained from

(thy father), the god Maruta.' Thus addressed by Krishna, Bhima, that

slayer of foes, holding up in the air the powerful Jarasandha, began to

whirl him on high. And, O bull of the Bharata race, having so whirled him

in the air full hundred times, Bhima pressed his knee against

Jarasandha's backbone and broke his body in twain. And having killed him

thus, the mighty Vrikodara uttered a terrible roar. And the roar of the

Pandava mingling with that death knell of Jarasandha, while he was being

broken on Bhima's knee, caused a loud uproar that struck fear into the

heart of every creature. And all the citizens of Magadha became dumb with

terror and many women were even prematurely delivered. And hearing those

roars, the people of Magadha thought that either the Himavat was tumbling

down or the earth itself was being rent asunder. And those oppressors of

all foes then, leaving the lifeless body of the king at the palace gate

where he lay as one asleep, went out of the town. And Krishna, causing

Jarasandha's car furnished with an excellent flagstaff to be made ready

and making the brothers (Bhima and Arjuna) ride in it, went in and

released his (imprisoned) relatives. And those kings rescued from

terrible fate, rich in the possession of jewels, approaching Krishna made

presents unto him of jewels and gems. And having vanquished his foe,

Krishna furnished with weapons and unwounded and accompanied by the kings

(he had released), came out of Girivraja riding in that celestial car (of

Jarasandha). And he also who could wield the bow with both hands

(Arjuna), who was incapable of being vanquished by any of the monarchs on

earth, who was exceedingly handsome in person and well-skilled in the

destruction of the foe, accompanied by the possessor of great strength

(Bhima), came out of that tort with Krishna driving the car whereon he

rode. And that best of cars, incapable of being vanquished by any king,

ridden in by those warriors Bhima and Arjuna, and driven by Krishna,

looked exceedingly handsome. Indeed, it was upon that car that Indra and

Vishnu had fought of old in the battle (with the Asuras) in which Taraka

(the wife of Vrihaspati) had become the immediate cause of much

slaughter. And riding upon that car Krishna now came out of the

hill-fort. Possessed of the splendour of heated gold, and decked with

rows of jingling bells and furnished with wheels whose clatter was like

the roar of clouds, and ever victorious in battle, and always

slaughtering the foe against whom it was driven, it was that very car

riding upon which Indra had slain ninety-nine Asuras of old. And those

bulls among men (the three cousins) having obtained that car became

exceedingly glad. The people of Magadha, behold the long-armed Krishna

along with the two brothers, seated in that car (of Jarasandha) wondered

much. O Bharata, that car, whereunto were yoked celestial horses and

which possessed the speed of the wind, thus ridden upon by Krishna,

looked exceedingly beautiful. And upon that best of cars was a flag-staff

without being visibly attached thereto, and which was the product of

celestial skill. And the handsome flag-staff, possessed of the splendour

of the rainbow, could be seen from the distance of a yojana. And Krishna

while, coming out, thought of Garuda. And Garuda, thought of by his

master, came thither in no time, like a tree of vast proportions standing

in a village worshipped by all. Garuda of immense weight of body and

living upon snakes sat upon that excellent car along with the numberless

open-mouthed and frightfully-roaring creatures on its flag-staff. And

thereupon that best of cars became still more dazzling with its splendour

and was as incapable of being looked at by created being as the midday

sun surrounded by a thousand rays. And, O king, such was that best of

flag-staffs of celestial make that it never struck against any tree nor

could any weapon injure it at all even though visible to men's eyes. And

Achyuta, that tiger among men, riding with the two sons of Pandu upon

that celestial car, the clatter of whose wheels was like the roar of the

clouds, came out of Girivraja. The car upon which Krishna rode had been

obtained by king Vasu from Vasava, and from Vasu by Vrihadratha, and from

the latter in due course by king Jarasandha. And he of long arms and eyes

like lotus-petals and possessed of illustrious reputation, coming out of

Girivraja, stopped (for some time) on a level plain outside the town.

And, O king, all the citizens then, with the Brahmanas at their head,

hastened thither to adore him with due religious rites. And the kings who

had been released from confinement worshipped the slayer of Madhu with

reverence, and addressing him with eulogies said,--O thou of long arms,

thou hast to-day rescued us, sunk in the deep mire of sorrow in the hand

of Jarasandha. Such an act of virtue by thee, O son of Devaki, assisted

by the might of Bhima and Arjuna, is most extraordinary. O Vishnu,

languishing as we all were in the terrible hill-fort of Jarasandha, it

was verily from sheer good fortune alone that thou hast rescued us, O son

of the Yadu race, and achieved thereby a remarkable reputation. O tiger

among men, we bow down to thee. O, command us what we shall do. However

difficult of accomplishment, thy command being made known to us, O lord

(Krishna), it will at once be accomplished by us. Thus addressed by the

monarchs, the high-souled Hrishikesa gave them every assurance and

said,--'Yudhishthira is desirous of performing the sacrifice of Rajasuya.

That monarch, ever guided by virtue, is solicitous of acquiring the

imperial dignity. Having known this from me assist ye him in his

endeavours. Then, O king, all those monarchs with joyous hearts accepted

the words of Krishna, saying,--'So be it! And saying this, those lords of

earth made presents of jewels unto him of the Dasarha race. And Govinda,

moved by kindness towards them, took a portion of those presents,

"Then the son of Jarasandha, the high-souled Sahadeva, accompanied by his

relatives and the principal officers of state, and with his priest in

front came thither. And the prince, bending himself low and making large

presents of jewels and precious stones, worshipped Vasudeva, that god

among men. Then that best of men, Krishna, giving every assurance unto

the prince afflicted with fear, accepted those presents of his of great

value. And Krishna joyfully installed the prince there and then in the

sovereignty of Magadha. And the strong-armed and illustrious son of

Jarasandha, thus installed on the throne by those most exalted of men and

having obtained the friendship of Krishna and treated with respect and

kindness by the two sons of Pritha, re-entered the city of his father.

And that bull amongst men, Krishna, accompanied by the sons of Pritha and

graced with great good fortune, left the city of Magadha, laden with

numerous jewels. Accompanied by the two sons of Pandu, Achyuta (Krishna)

arrived at Indraprastha, and approaching Yudhishthira joyfully addressing

that monarch said,--'O best of kings, from good fortune, the mighty

Jarasandha hath been slain by Bhima, and the kings confined (at

Girivraja) have been all set free. From good fortune also, these two,

Bhima and Dhananjaya, are well and arrived, O Bharata, it their own city

unwounded. Then Yudhishthira worshipped Krishna as he deserved and

embraced Bhima and Arjuna in joy. And the monarch who had no enemy,

having obtained victory through the agency of his brothers in consequence

of the death of Jarasandha, gave himself up to pleasure and merriment

with all his brothers. And the oldest son of Pandu (Yudhisthira) together

with his brothers approached the kings who had come to Indraprastha and

entertaining and worshipping them, each according to his age, dismissed

them all. Commanded by Yudhishthira those kings with joyful hearts, set

out for their respective countries without loss of time, riding upon

excellent vehicles. Thus, O king, did that tiger among men. Janardana of

great intelligence, caused his foe Jarasandha to be slain through the

instrumentality of the Pandavas. And, O Bharata, that chastiser of all

foes having thus caused Jarasandha to be slain, took leave of

Yudhishthira and Pritha, and Draupadi and Subhadra, and Bhimasena and

Arjuna and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. After taking leave of

Dhananjaya also, he set out for his own city (of Dwarka), riding upon

that best of cars of celestial make, possessed of the speed of the mind

and given unto him by Yudhishthira, filling the ten points of the horizon

with the deep rattle of its wheels. And, O bull of the Bharata race, just

as Krishna was on the point of setting out, the Pandavas with

Yudhishthira at their head walked round that tiger among men who was

never fatigued with exertion.'

"And after the illustrious Krishna, the son of Devaki, had departed (from

Indraprastha) having acquired that great victory and having also

dispelled the fears of the kings, that feat, O Bharata, swelled the fame

of the Pandavas. And, O king, the Pandavas passed their days, continuing

to gladden the heart of Draupadi. And at that time, whatever was proper

and consistent with virtue, pleasure, and profit, continued to be

properly executed by king Yudhishthira in the exercise of his duties of

protecting his subjects."