SECTION XXI
(Jarasandhta-badha Parva Continued)
"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!"
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