Site menuChapter 72: Jarâsandha Killed by Bhîma and the Kings Freed
(1-2)
S'rî S'uka said: 'Once seated in his
court surrounded by the sages, the nobles, the popular personalities,
the business men and his brothers, addressed Yudhishthhira Krishna in
the midst of all the âcâryas, the family, the
elders, his blood relatives, in-laws and friends listening, and said he
the following. (3) S'rî
Yudhishthhira said: 'O Govinda, I wish to honor the manifold glory of
You with the purifying king of all fire sacrifices named
Râjasûya; please allow us that to perform o Master. (4) They who constantly in full service meditate
upon and glorify Your slippers, which cause the destruction of all
things inauspicious, are purified; they, and not other persons, o You
whose Navel is like a Lotus, manage to put an end to a material
existence or obtain, if they desire something, that what they long for.
(5) Therefore o God of Gods, let the populace
see the power in this world of serving the lotus feet; please show, o
All-powerful one, the status of those Kurus and Sriñjayas who
worship You like this, relative to the status of those who do not
worship. (6) In Your mind of Absolute Truth can there be
no difference between what is Your own and what is of others, for You
are the Soul of All Beings who equal in Your vision experience within
Yourself the happiness. To those who properly serve You are You like
the desire tree granting the desired results in accordance with the
service delivered - in this [catering to desires of You] there is no
contradiction.'
(7) The Supreme Lord said: 'There is nothing wrong with your plan o King, following it will all the world witness your auspicious fame, o tormentor of the enemies! (8) For the sages, the forefathers, the gods and the friends also, o master of Us, as well as for all living beings is this king of sacrifices [the literal meaning of Râjasûja] desirable. (9) Bringing the earth under control, conquering all the kings and collecting all the necessities, [you must next] perform the great sacrifice. (10) These brothers of yours o King, were born as individual parts of the demigods who rule the worlds [see family-tree], and I, unconquerable for those who are not in control of themselves, am won by you who are self-controlled. (11) No person, not even a demigod - not mentioning an earthly ruler -, can by his strength, beauty, fame or might subdue in this world someone who is dedicated to Me.'
(12) S'rî S'uka said: 'With a face blossoming like a lotus, pleased to hear the song [the Gîtâ] of the Supreme Lord, engaged he, invigorated by the potency of Vishnu, his brothers in the conquest of all the directions. (13) Sahadeva with the Sriñjayas he sent to the south, Nakula with the Matsyas in the western direction, Arjuna with the Kekayas to the north and Bhîma with the Madrakas to the east. (14) They, the heroes, with their personal strength subduing many kings brought from everywhere an abundance of riches to him of whom, intent upon performing the sacrifice, the enemy wasn't born, o King. (15) The king pondering over the news that Jarâsandha was not defeated, was by the Original Person of the Lord enlightened on the means which thereto had been mentioned by Uddhava [in 10.71: 2-10]. (16) And so went Bhîmasena, Arjuna and Krishna disguised as brahmins together to Girivraja, my dear, where the son of Brihadratha [Jarâsandha] resided. (17) Going to his residence at the hour appointed for receiving uninvited guests begged the nobles, appearing as brahmins, with the religious householder who was of respect for brahmins: (18) 'O King, know us to be guests who in their need have arrived from afar; wishing you all the best, please grant us all that we desire. (19) What would for a person of patience be intolerable, what would for the impious all be impossible, what wouldn't be donated by the generous, and who would exclude those who are equal in their vision? (20) He indeed is contemptible and pitiable who, very well being able, with the temporary existence of his body fails to acquire the lasting fame as sung by the saintly. (21) Many like Haris'candra, Rantideva, Uñchavritti Mudgala, S'ibi, Bali, and the legendary hunter and pigeon [see*], attained the permanent by departing from the impermanent.'
(22) S'rî S'uka said: 'However, from their voices, their physical stature and the marks of bowstrings on their arms even, recognized he [Jarâsandha] them as nobles, as members of the family he had seen before. (23) [he thought:] 'These relatives of the royal class wearing the insignia of brahmins I should give whatever they ask for, even something as difficult to forsake as my own body. (24-25) Isn't it known of Bali that his glories spread wide in all directions because of his spotless rule of state, even though he was brought down by Lord Vishnu [Vâmana] who, in the guise of a brahmin appearing as a twiceborn one of Vishnu, wanted to take away Indra's opulence? Knowingly gave he away the entire earth, despite the advise against the daitya king [Bali] received [from his guru, see 8.19]. (26) What use at all is it for a fallen kshatriya to be alive but with his perishable body not to endeavor for the benefit, the greater glory, of the brahmins?' (27) Thus being a broad-minded person said he to Krishna, Arjuna and Vrikodara ['wolf-belly' or Bhîma]: 'O men of learning, ask me whatever you want, I'll even give my own head to you!'
(28) The Supreme Lord said: 'Please o high and mighty King, accept the challenge to give us battle in a one-to-one fight; we, members of the royalty, came here wishing a fight and don't want anything else. (29) That one is Bhîma the son of Prithâ and this other one is Arjuna in person and I, I am Krishna their maternal cousin, your enemy as you know [see 10.50].'
(30) Thus being invited had the king of Magadha to laugh out loud and said he contemptuously: 'In that case, I'll give you battle, you fools! (31) But I won't fight with You. Cowardly, You lacked in strength in battle when You abandoned Your own city Mathurâ to leave for a safe place in the ocean. (32) As for this one, Arjuna, he, not old enough nor very strong, is no match for me and shouldn't be the contender; Bhîma is the one equal in strength to me.'
(7) The Supreme Lord said: 'There is nothing wrong with your plan o King, following it will all the world witness your auspicious fame, o tormentor of the enemies! (8) For the sages, the forefathers, the gods and the friends also, o master of Us, as well as for all living beings is this king of sacrifices [the literal meaning of Râjasûja] desirable. (9) Bringing the earth under control, conquering all the kings and collecting all the necessities, [you must next] perform the great sacrifice. (10) These brothers of yours o King, were born as individual parts of the demigods who rule the worlds [see family-tree], and I, unconquerable for those who are not in control of themselves, am won by you who are self-controlled. (11) No person, not even a demigod - not mentioning an earthly ruler -, can by his strength, beauty, fame or might subdue in this world someone who is dedicated to Me.'
(12) S'rî S'uka said: 'With a face blossoming like a lotus, pleased to hear the song [the Gîtâ] of the Supreme Lord, engaged he, invigorated by the potency of Vishnu, his brothers in the conquest of all the directions. (13) Sahadeva with the Sriñjayas he sent to the south, Nakula with the Matsyas in the western direction, Arjuna with the Kekayas to the north and Bhîma with the Madrakas to the east. (14) They, the heroes, with their personal strength subduing many kings brought from everywhere an abundance of riches to him of whom, intent upon performing the sacrifice, the enemy wasn't born, o King. (15) The king pondering over the news that Jarâsandha was not defeated, was by the Original Person of the Lord enlightened on the means which thereto had been mentioned by Uddhava [in 10.71: 2-10]. (16) And so went Bhîmasena, Arjuna and Krishna disguised as brahmins together to Girivraja, my dear, where the son of Brihadratha [Jarâsandha] resided. (17) Going to his residence at the hour appointed for receiving uninvited guests begged the nobles, appearing as brahmins, with the religious householder who was of respect for brahmins: (18) 'O King, know us to be guests who in their need have arrived from afar; wishing you all the best, please grant us all that we desire. (19) What would for a person of patience be intolerable, what would for the impious all be impossible, what wouldn't be donated by the generous, and who would exclude those who are equal in their vision? (20) He indeed is contemptible and pitiable who, very well being able, with the temporary existence of his body fails to acquire the lasting fame as sung by the saintly. (21) Many like Haris'candra, Rantideva, Uñchavritti Mudgala, S'ibi, Bali, and the legendary hunter and pigeon [see*], attained the permanent by departing from the impermanent.'
(22) S'rî S'uka said: 'However, from their voices, their physical stature and the marks of bowstrings on their arms even, recognized he [Jarâsandha] them as nobles, as members of the family he had seen before. (23) [he thought:] 'These relatives of the royal class wearing the insignia of brahmins I should give whatever they ask for, even something as difficult to forsake as my own body. (24-25) Isn't it known of Bali that his glories spread wide in all directions because of his spotless rule of state, even though he was brought down by Lord Vishnu [Vâmana] who, in the guise of a brahmin appearing as a twiceborn one of Vishnu, wanted to take away Indra's opulence? Knowingly gave he away the entire earth, despite the advise against the daitya king [Bali] received [from his guru, see 8.19]. (26) What use at all is it for a fallen kshatriya to be alive but with his perishable body not to endeavor for the benefit, the greater glory, of the brahmins?' (27) Thus being a broad-minded person said he to Krishna, Arjuna and Vrikodara ['wolf-belly' or Bhîma]: 'O men of learning, ask me whatever you want, I'll even give my own head to you!'
(28) The Supreme Lord said: 'Please o high and mighty King, accept the challenge to give us battle in a one-to-one fight; we, members of the royalty, came here wishing a fight and don't want anything else. (29) That one is Bhîma the son of Prithâ and this other one is Arjuna in person and I, I am Krishna their maternal cousin, your enemy as you know [see 10.50].'
(30) Thus being invited had the king of Magadha to laugh out loud and said he contemptuously: 'In that case, I'll give you battle, you fools! (31) But I won't fight with You. Cowardly, You lacked in strength in battle when You abandoned Your own city Mathurâ to leave for a safe place in the ocean. (32) As for this one, Arjuna, he, not old enough nor very strong, is no match for me and shouldn't be the contender; Bhîma is the one equal in strength to me.'
