Maitreya said:—O Brahman, I have a great desire to listen to some other
exploits of Balarāma; do thou describe them unto me. You have related to
me, O reverend Sir, his dragging the Yamuna and other mighty deeds; do
thou now recount some other of his acts.
Parāçara said:—Listen O Maitreya, to the exploits accomplished by Rāma
who is the eternal, illimitable Sesha, the upholder of the earth. At the
choice of a husband by the daughter of Duryodhana, the princess was
taken away by the hero Sāmba, the son of Jāmbavati. Being pursued by
Duryodhana, Karna, Bhishma, Drona and other illustrious chiefs who were
enraged for his audacity, he was defeated and taken prisoner. When the
Yādavas heard of this event they were greatly enraged with Duryodhana
and his companions and addressed themselves to fight with them. But
Baladeva, in accents suppressed by the effects of inebriety, forbade
them and said, "I will go alone to the sons of Kuru and at my request
they will let Sāmba free". Accordingly he went to Hastināpur and took
his abode in a grove outside the town which he did not enter. When
Duryodhana and others were informed of his arrival, they sent him a cow,
a present of fruits and flowers and water. Bala received the offering in
the customary form and said to the descendants of Kuru "Ugrasena
commands you to liberate Sāmba". When Duryodhana, Karna, Bhishma, Drona
and others heard this they were worked up with ire, and Bāhlika and
other friends of the Kauravai who considered the Yadu race as having no
claims to regal dignity said to the wielder of the club. "What is this,
O Balarāma, that thou hast uttered? What Yadava shall command the chiefs
of the Kurus? If Ugrasena thus commands the Kuravas, we will take away
the white umbrella which he has usurped and which is only fit for the
kings. You should go away therefore, Balarāma; you are entitled to our
respect; but Sāmba has been guilty of an improper conduct and we shall
not let him free either at Ugrasena's commands or yours. The Kukkura and
Andhaka races might not pay the homage due to us, their superiors, but
who ever heard of a servant commanding his master? You have been
rendered arrogant by our treating you equally with seat and food; we
have committed a great mistake in neglecting the policy, for our great
friendship for you. The present that we sent you today was a sign of
personal regard, but it was not fit for us to have offered nor for yours
to have expected".
Having said this, the Kuru chiefs unanimously refused to liberate Hari's
sons and came back to their city. Moving about with intoxication and
anger caused by their insolent words, Bala struck the ground furiously
with his heel so that it burst to pieces with a loud sound that
reverberated through the regions of space. His eyes reddened with rage
and his brow curved with frowns he exclaimed. "What pride is this in
such vile and pithless creatures. The sovereignty of Kauravas as well as
our own is the work of destiny whose decree it also is that they now
disrespect or disobey the commands of Ugrasena. Indra may, as is his
right, command the celestials and Ugrasena exercises equal authority
with the lord of Sachi. Fie upon the pride that boasts a throne, the
leavings of a hundred mortals. Is not he the sovereign of earth, the
wives of whose servants adorn themselves with the blossoms of the
Pārijāta tree? Ugrasena shall be the undisputed lord of kings; for I
will not return to his capital until I have rid the world wholly of the
sons of Kuru. I will destroy Karna, Duryodhana, Drona, Bhishma, Bāhlika,
Dussāsana, Bhurisrava, Somadatta, Salya, Bhima, Arjuna, Yudhishthira,
the twins, and all the other wretched sons of Kuru with their horses,
elephants and chariots. I will liberate the hero Sāmba and carry him
along with his wife to Dwārakā where I shall again behold Ugrasena and
the rest of my kinsmen. Or commanded by the king of celestials, to
remove the burden of the earth, I will take this capital of the Kauravas
with all the sons of Kuru, and throw Hastināpur into the Bhāgirathi".
Saying this with his eyes reddened with ire, Baladeva, the wielder of
the club, plunged the blade of his ploughshare downwards beneath the
ramparts of the city, and drew them towards him. When the Kauravas
beheld Hastināpur tottering, they were much afraid, and called loudly on
Rāma, saying, "O Rāma! Rāma! hold, hold; supress your anger and have
compassion upon us. Here is Sāmba and his wife also delivered up to you.
Forgive the sins committed by us ignorant of your wondrous power".
Accordingly the Kauravas hurried out of the city and delivered Sāmba and
his wife to the mighty Balarāma, who, bowing to Bhishma, Drona and
Kripa, who pacified him, said, "I am satisfied," and desisted. The city
bears the mark of the shock even to the present day—such was the might
of Rāma proving both his strength and power. The Kauravas then, offering
homage to Sāmba and Bala, sent away the former with his wife and dowry.