Mahābhārata The History of the Great India

<< 122 Jarasandha s Alliances* >>

Lord Krsna said, "Maharaja, you have all the qualifications to perform the Rajasuya. I shall tell you something, O Bharata, even though you know all this. Today the royal order is made up of members of royal families left by Lord Parasurama [when he killed all the kings of the earth]. Therefore, today's royalty is a younger line of monarchs, who acknowledge the dynasty of Aila and Iksvaku to be the origin of their lineage and are bound in a continuous succession. O best of the Bharatas, know that the kings of the Aila dynasty and the descendants of Iksvaku form 101 royal lineages of extraordinary qualities. This line now extends to the four corners of the earth and is esteemed for its success and opulence.

"But in that succession has arisen a most powerful king, known as Jarasandha, in whom the hundred and first royal line is invested. After ruling and enjoying the middle portion of the earth, he has set his mind on strife with other kings.

From birth, Jarasandha has achieved wide sovereignty. Sisupala, a mighty king born to lead armies, has completely taken shelter of Jarasandha, O wise monarch. And the lord of the Karusas, the powerful Vakra, who fights with magic, waits upon Jarasandha like a faithful disciple. Jarasandha has great courage, and two other exalted warriors of great courage, Hamsa and Dibhaka, have both taken shelter of him, as have Dantavakra, Kurusa, Kalabha, and Meghavahana.

"He who bears the divine jewel known as bhuta-mani on his head, he who punished the Yavana lords Mura and Naraka, that king of unlimited strength who rules the west like Varuna—your father's old friend Bhagadatta—is surrendered in word and deed to Jarasandha. But still he is devoted to you in his mind, bound to you in love like a father.

"That king who rules the southwestern end of the earth, who strengthens the Kunti clan, your heroic maternal uncle Purujit—he alone, that burner of enemies, is fully surrendered to you in affection.

"Paundraka, the evil-minded ruler of the Cedis, whom I have not yet slain though he is celebrated among his people as the Supreme Person, has also gone to Jarasandha. He declares himself the Supreme Person appearing in this world, and in illusion he has adopted My symbols and emblems. He rules parts of Bengal and Bihar and the lands of the Kiratas and is widely known among the people as Vasudeva.

"Caturyu is a powerful Bhoja and a friend of Indra. By the power of his science he conquered the Pandyas, the Krathas, and the Kaisikas; and his brother, the hero Ahrti, is equal to Parasurama in battle. Caturyu, also known as King Bhismaka, is devoted to Jarasandha, and he is a killer of even powerful enemies. Because We are his relatives, We have always treated him with deference, but though We accept him, he does not accept Us, and though We treat him kindly, he persists in being unkind to Us. Failing to recognize the strength and aristocracy of his own line, O king, he has sought shelter of Jarasandha upon seeing Jarasandha's blazing fame.

"Some time ago the foolish and vain Kamsa so harassed his relatives that he was able to directly approach the two goddesslike daughters of Jarasandha and make them his wives. The names of those younger sisters of Sahadeva were Asti and Prapti. Foolish and vain, Kamsa then used his strength to overcome his relatives. He achieved preeminence, but his policy and strategy were extremely bad. When that evil one persecuted the elder kings of the Bhoja clan, they respectfully met with Me, determined to save their families, and they offered Sutanu, the daughter of Ahuka, to My uncle Akrura. Then I, backed by Balarama, fulfilled My duty to My relatives. Balarama and I proceeded to kill Kamsa and Sunama.

"But as soon as that danger was passed, Jarasandha rose up to avenge the death of his son-in-law, and so, king, We took counsel with the eighteen younger families of Our dynasty. We concluded that even if without resting we went on for three hundred years slaying them with mighty weapons that could kill one hundred soldiers each, we would not destroy their army. Moreover, in that army were two most excellent fighters named Hamsa and Dibhaka, who shone like gods and surpassed the strong with their strength. In My opinion these two heroes and mighty Jarasandha formed a threesome that was an equal match for the three worlds. Not only did We come to this conclusion, but all the other kings of the earth were of the very same mind.

"The great king celebrated as Hamsa met in battle the eighteen younger warrior clans. Someone untruthfully announced, 'Hamsa is killed!' When Dibhaka heard this he drowned himself in the waters of the Yamuna, thinking, 'Without Hamsa, I cannot bear to live in this world.' Fixed in this thought, Dibhaka came to his end. When Hamsa heard about Dibhaka, he threw himself into the same river Yamuna and drowned. When King Jarasandha heard that the two had come to their end in the waters, he left the land of the Surasenas and went back to his city.

"The king having turned back, O slayer of foes, we all dwelled happily again in the city of Mathura. But when Kamsa's lotus-eyed wife returned to her father, Jarasandha, king of Magadha, she was anguished over the death of her husband, and so, O leader of kings, again and again she entreated her father, 'You must kill my lord's killer!'

"Then, Maharaja, O tamer of foes, remembering well our previous discussion of Jarasandha's might, we were perplexed. And so we retreated, O king of men. We quickly threw together our great wealth, O king, and with our treasure, friends, and relatives we practically flew away in fear of him. After considering the matter, we took shelter in the West, in the pleasing city of Kusasthali, Dvaraka, which is graced by Mount Raivata.

"There we again established our residence, constructing our fort so well that even the gods could hardly invade that city. Even the women can fight and defend that city, what to speak of the Vrsni heroes. O slayer of foes, we now dwell there free of all fear. As the citizens gaze upon Raivata, the best of mountains, and the holy ford called Madhavitirtha, O tiger of the Kurus, they find there the greatest joy.

"Most virtuous Bharata, you are always endowed with all the qualities of an emperor, and you should make yourself the emperor of the royal order. But as long as Jarasandha and his vast army live, it will be impossible for you to attain the Rajasuya. That is My opinion, O king.

"Like a lion defeating great elephants, Jarasandha has conquered kings and imprisoned them in a cave high on a mountain at his capital, Girivraja. Since he defeated the kings after worshiping Lord Siva, King Jarasandha wants to offer all those monarchs in sacrifice. As Jarasandha went on defeating kings, he would bring them to his city, make a corral for them, and bind them in it. Even We, Maharaja, in fear of Jarasandha, completely renounced Our home in Mathura and went to Dvaraka. If you actually want to achieve this sacrifice, then try to kill Jarasandha and free those kings. Otherwise, O most intelligent one, O Kuru child, even to begin a full performance of the Rajasuya will prove impossible. That is My view, O king. But how do you see it, sinless one? The situation being what it is, you decide with good reasons and then explain them to Me."

Donate to Bhaktivedanta Library