SLAYING OF JARAASANDHA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > JARAASANDHA VADHA PARVA > CHAPTER 24 - SLAYING OF JARAASANDHA

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Thus addressed, Bhima firmly resolved upon slaying Jaraasandha, replied to (Sri) Krishna of the Yadu race, saying, ‘O tiger of the Yadu race, O (Sri) Krishna, this wretch that yet stays 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, (Sri) Krishna, desiring to encourage that hero to accomplish the death of Jaraasandha without any delay, answered, ‘O Bhima, today exhibit upon Jaraasandha the strength you have derived, the might you have obtained from (your father) – the Deva Maruta.’

“Thus addressed by (Sri) Krishna, Bhima, that slayer of enemies, holding up in the air the powerful Jaraasandha, began to whirl him on high. O bull of the Bharata race (Janamejaya), having so whirled him in the air full hundred times, Bhima pressed his knee against Jaraasandha’s backbone and broke his body in two. Having killed him thus, the mighty Vrikodara (Bhima) uttered a terrible roar. The roar of the Paandava mixing with that death cry of Jaraasandha, while he was being broken on Bhima’s knee, caused a loud uproar that struck fear into the heart of every creature. All the citizens of Magadha became dumb with terror and many women were even prematurely delivered.

“Hearing those roars, the people of Magadha thought that either the Himavaan (present-day Himalayas) was tumbling down or the earth itself was being tear apart. Those oppressors of all enemies then, leaving the lifeless body of the king (Jaraasandha) at the palace gate where he lay as one asleep, went out of the town. (Sri) Krishna, causing Jaraasandha’s chariot 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. Those kings rescued from terrible fate, rich in the possession of gems, approaching (Sri) Krishna made presents to Him of jewels and gems. Having vanquished his enemy, (Sri) Krishna furnished with weapons, not injured and accompanied by the kings (He had released), came out of Girivraja riding in that divine chariot (of Jaraasandha). Also, he 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 enemy, accompanied by the possessor of great strength (Bhima), came out of that fort with (Sri) Krishna driving the chariot on which He rode.

“That best of chariots, incapable of being vanquished by any king, ridden in by those warriors Bhima and Arjuna, and driven by (Sri) Krishna, looked exceedingly beautiful. Indeed, it was upon that chariot that (Lord) Indra and (Lord) Vishnu had fought in an ancient battle (with the Asuras) in which Taarakaa (wife of Deva Guru Brihaspati) had become the immediate cause of much slaughter. Riding upon that chariot, (Sri) Krishna now came out of the hill-fort. Possessed of the brilliance of heated gold, decorated with rows of jingling bells, furnished with wheels whose sound was like the roar of clouds, ever victorious in battle, always slaughtering the foe against whom it was driven, it was that very chariot riding upon which (Lord) Indra had slain ninety-nine Asuras in ancient times.

“Those bulls among men (the three cousins) having obtained that chariot became exceedingly glad. The people of Magadha, saw the long-armed (Sri) Krishna along with the two brothers, seated in that chariot (of Jaraasandha) wondered much. O Bharata (Janamejaya), that chariot, to which were attached divine horses and which possessed the speed of the wind, thus ridden upon by (Sri) Krishna, looked exceedingly beautiful. Upon that best of chariots was a flag-staff without being visibly attached to that, and which was the product of divine skill. The beautiful flag-staff, possessed of the brilliance of the rainbow, could be seen from the distance of a yojana. (Sri) Krishna while, coming out, thought of Garuda. Garuda, thought of by His master, came there 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 chariot along with numerous open-mouthed and frightfully-roaring creatures on its flag-staff.

“Immediately, that best of chariots 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. O king (Janamejaya), such was that best of flag-staffs of divine-make that it never struck against any tree nor could any weapon injure it at all though visible to men’s eyes. Achyuta (Sri Krishna), that tiger among men, riding with the two Paandavaas (Bhima and Arjuna) upon that divine chariot, the sound of whose wheels was like the roar of the clouds, came out of Girivraja (Magadha’s capital). The chariot upon which (Sri) Krishna rode had been obtained by king Vasu from Vaasavaa (Lord Indra), and from (King) Vasu by (King) Brihadratha (Jaraasandha’s father), and from the latter in due course by king Jaraasandha.

“He of long arms and eyes like lotus-petals and possessed of illustrious reputation (Sri Krishna), coming out of Girivraja, stopped (for some time) on a level plain outside the town. O king (Janamejaya), all the citizens then, with the Brahmanas at their head, quickened there to adore Him with due auspicious rites. The kings who had been released from confinement (of prison) worshipped Madhusoodana (Sri Krishna) with respect, and addressing Him with praises said, ‘O You of long arms, You have today rescued us, sunk in the deep entanglement of sorrow in the hand of Jaraasandha. Such an act of Dharma by You, O son of Devaki (Sri Krishna), assisted by the might of Bhima and Arjuna, is most extraordinary. O (Lord) Vishnu (Sri Krishna), declining as we all were in the terrible hill-fort of Jaraasandha, it was certainly from sheer good fortune alone that You have rescued us, O son of the Yadu race (Sri Krishna), and achieved thereby a remarkable reputation. O tiger among men (Sri Krishna), we bow down to You. O, command us what we shall do. However difficult of accomplishment, Your 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 (Mahamanaa in Sanskrit) Hrishikesha (Sri Krishna) gave them every assurance and said, ‘Yudhishthira is desirous of performing Raajasooya (yagna). That monarch, ever guided by Dharma, is concerned of acquiring the imperial dignity. Having known this from me, you assist him in his endeavours.’

“Then, O king (Janamejaya), all those monarchs with joyous hearts accepted the words of (Sri) Krishna, saying, ‘So be it!’ Saying this, those lords of earth made presents of gems to Him of the Dashaarha race (Sri Krishna). Govinda (Sri Krishna), moved by kindness towards them, took a portion of those presents.

“Then the son of Jaraasandha, the Maharathaa Sahadeva, accompanied by his relatives and the principal officers of state, and with his Purohita in front came there. The prince (Sahadeva), bending himself low and making large presents of jewels and precious stones, worshipped Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna), that Deva among men. Then that best of men, (Sri) Krishna, giving every assurance to the prince (Sahadeva) afflicted with fear, accepted those presents of his of great value. (Sri) Krishna joyfully installed the prince there and then in the sovereignty of Magadha. The strong-armed and illustrious son of Jaraasandha (Sahadeva), thus installed on the throne by those most noble of men and having obtained the friendship of (Sri) Krishna and treated with respect and kindness by the two Paarthaas (Bhima and Arjuna), re-entered the city of his father (Jaraasandha).

“That bull among men, (Sri) Krishna, accompanied by Paarthaas (Bhima and Arjuna) and graced with great good fortune, left the city of Magadha, loaded with numerous jewels. Accompanied by the two Paandavaas, Achyuta (Sri Krishna) arrived at Indraprastha, and approaching Yudhishthira joyfully addressing that monarch said, ‘O best of kings, from good fortune, the mighty Jaraasandha has been slain by Bhima, and the kings confined (at Girivraja) have been all set free. O Bharata (Yudhishthira), from good fortune also, these two, Bhima and Dhananjaya (Arjuna), are well and arrived to their own city unwounded.’

“Then Yudhishthira worshipped (Sri) Krishna as He deserved and embraced Bhima and Arjuna in joy. The monarch who had no enemy, having obtained victory through the agency of his brothers in consequence of the death of Jaraasandha, gave himself up to pleasure and merriment with all his brothers. The oldest son of Paandu (Yudhisthira) together with his brothers approached the kings who had come to Indraprastha, 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 (Janamejaya), did that tiger among men, Janaardana of great intelligence, caused His enemy Jaraasandha to be slain through the instrumentality of Paandavaas. O Bharata (Janamejaya), that punisher of all enemies (Sri Krishna) having thus caused Jaraasandha to be slain, took leave of Yudhishthira, Prithaa (Kunti), Draupadi, Subhadra, Bhimasena, Phalguna (Arjuna), and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. After taking leave of Dhananjaya (Arjuna) also, He (Sri Krishna) set out for His own city (of Dwarka), riding upon that best of chariots of divine make, possessed of the speed of the mind and given to him by Yudhishthira, filling the ten points of the (directional) horizon with the deep sound of its wheels. O bull of the Bharata race (Janamejaya), just as (Sri) Krishna was on the point of setting out, the Paandavaas with Yudhishthira at their head walked round that tiger among men who was never tired with exertion.

“O Bharata (Janamejaya), after the illustrious (Sri) Krishna, the son of Devaki, had departed (from Indraprastha) having acquired that great victory (over Jaraasandha) and having also dispelled the fears of the kings, that achievement swelled the fame of Paandavaas. O king (Janamejaya), Paandavaas passed their days, continuing to gladden the heart of Draupadi. At that time, whatever was proper and consistent with Dharma, Kaamaa, and Arthaa, continued to be properly executed by king Yudhishthira in the exercise of his duties of protecting his subjects.’”