SECTION XXIV
(Jarasandhta-badha Parva Continued)
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."
){kind=link}
0 Comments
If you have any Misunderstanding Please let me know