*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 70-73.*
Krishna was holding council in the Assembly Room called Sudharma. A
Brahmana came as a messenger from the Rajas who had been imprisoned by
Jarasandha and confined in a hill fort. The Rajas sought their delivery
from Krishna, who had defeated Jarasandha seven times and had been
defeated by him only once.
Narada appeared at the time. Krishna enquired from him about the
Pandavas. The Rishi said: --
"Raja Yudhisthira intends to perform the great Yajna Raja Suya in Thy
honor. Please give thy consent". Krishna turned towards Uddhava and
asked for advice.
Uddhava gauged the feelings of Narada, of Krishna and the assembly and
said: --
"It is meet thou shouldst help thy cousin in the performance of Raja
Suya Yajna and also that thou shouldst protect the Rajas that seek
relief from thee. Kings all round will have to be conquered at the Raja
Suya sacrifice. The defeat of Jarasandha will follow as a matter of
course. Thus shall we see the fulfilment of our great desire and the
liberation of the Rajas shall redound to Thy glory. Both ends will be
served in this way. But Jarasandha is very powerful. He should not be
fought with while at the head of his large army. Bhima is equal to him
in strength. Let him fight singly with Jarasandha. That king does not
refuse any prayer of Brahmanas. Let Bhima ask for single combat in the
disguise of a Brahmana. Surely that son of Pandu will kill him in thy
presence."
Krishna gave kind assurances to the messenger of the captive kings and
left for Hastinapura.
The Pandavas vied with one another in shewing respectful love to Krishna
and Arjuna delivered up the Khandava forest to Agni and liberated Maya.
In return for this kindness, Maya made the magical assembly ground for
the Yajna.
All the kings were brought under submission by Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula,
Sahadeva and the allied kings, except Jarasandha.
Bhima, Arjuna and Krishna went to the seat of Jarasandha in the disguise
of Brahmanas.
They begged hospitality from the king. King Jarasandha concluded from
their voice, their shape and from the arrow marks on their hands that
they were Kshatriyas. He also thought they were his acquaintances.
"These are Kshatriyas, though they wear the marks of brahmanas. I will
give them what they ask even though it be my own self, so difficult to
part with. Is not the pure glory of Bali spread in all directions,
though he was deprived of his lordly powers by Vishnu in the disguise of
a Brahmana? Vishnu wanted to restore the lordship of the Triloki to
India. Bali knew the Brahmana in disguise to be Vishnu. He still made
over the Triloki to him, even against the protests of his Guru Sukra.
This body of a Kshatriya, frail as it is, what purpose will it serve if
wide fame is not acquired by means of it for the sake of a Brahmana?"
Turning to Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima, Jarasandha said: -- "O Brahmanas,
ask what you wish for. Even if it be my own head, I shall give it to
you."
Krishna replied: "Give us a single combat, if you please, O King. We are
Kshatriyas and have come for fight. We desire nothing else. This is
Bhima. This is his brother Arjuna. Know me to be their cousin Krishna,
thy enemy." The king of Magadha broke out in loud laughter. In anger he
then exclaimed: -- "O fools, I will give you a fight then. But thou art
a coward. Thou didst run away from Mathura and didst take shelter in the
sea. This Arjuna is not my equal in age. He is not very strong. He is
unlike me in his body. So he cannot be my rival. This Bhima is my match
in strength." So saying he gave one club to Bhima and took one himself.
The two heroes fought outside the town. The fight was a drawn one.
Krishna knew about the birth, death and life of Jarasandha. He thought
in his mind about the joining together by the Rakshasa woman Jara. (The
legend is that Jarasandha was born, divided in two halves, which were
put together by the Rakshasa woman Jara.) Krishna took a branch in his
hand and tore it asunder. Bhima took the hint. He put his foot on one of
the legs of Jarasandha and took the other in his hand and tore asunder
the body in two equal parts.
Krishna placed Sahadeva, the son of Jarasandha, on the throne of
Magadha, He then liberated the kings who had been imprisoned by
Jarasandha. They were twenty thousand and eight hundred in number. They
saw Krishna with four hands and with all the divine attributes. Their
eyes, tongues and noses all fed upon him, as it were, and their hands
were stretched forth to receive him. They all fell at the feet of
Krishna and began to adore him.
"We do not blame the king of Magadha. O Lord, it is by Thy favor, that
kings are deprived of their thrones. Humbled, we remember Thy feet. We
do not long for any kingdom in this life, nor do we care for the fruits
of good works after death. Tell us that which will keep the recollection
of Thy feet ever fresh in this life."