Parāçara said:—The mighty Kansa had married the two daughters of
Jarāsandha, one named Asti, the other Prāpti. Jarāsandha was king of
Magadha, and a very powerful prince, who, when he heard that Krishna had
killed his son-in-law, was much incensed, and, collecting a large force,
marched against Mathura, determined to put the Yādavas and Krishna to
the sword. Accordingly he invested the city with three and twenty
numerous divisions of his forces. Rāma and Janārddana sallied from the
town with a slender, but resolute force, and fought bravely with the
armies of Magadha. The two youthful leaders prudently resolved to have
recourse to their ancient weapons, and accordingly the bow of Hari, with
two quivers filled with exhaustless arrows and the mace called
Kaumodaki, and the ploughshare of Balabhadra, as well as the club
Saunanda, descended at a wish from heaven. Armed with these weapons,
they speedily discomfited the king of Magadha and his hosts, and
re-entered the city in triumph.
Although the wicked king of Magadha, Jarāsandha, was defeated, yet
Krishna knew that whilst he escaped alive he was not subdued; and in
fact, he soon returned with a mighty force, and was again forced by Rāma
and Krishna to fly. Eighteen times did the haughty prince of Magadha
renew his attack upon the Yādavas, headed by Krishna; and was as often
defeated and put to the rout by them, with very inferior numbers. That
the Yādavas were not overpowered by their foes, was owing to the present
might of the portion of the discus-armed Vishnu. It was the pastime of
the lord of the universe, in his capacity of man, to launch various
weapons against his enemies; for what effort of power to annihilate his
foes could be necessary to him, whose fiat creates and destroys the
world? But as subjecting himself to human customs, he formed alliances
with the brave, and engaged in hostilities with the base. He had
recourse to the four devices of policy, or negotiation, presents, sowing
dissension, and chastisement; and sometimes even betook himself to
flight. Thus imitating the conduct of human beings, the lord of the
world pursued at will his sports.