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III
The Slaying of Jarasandha
Krishna pursued: “Now is the call of Fate, Fallen is Dimbhuc, fallen Hansa great, Kansa is slain and all his host; the hour At last draws nigh when Jarasandha’s power Must bow to death; yet not in violent war Is conquerable nor all the gods that are Nor the embattled Titans overwhelm: In deadly duel we must vanquish him. Conduct is mine, strength Bheem’s and in the field Arjoon who is very victory stands to shield. We will consume the Maagadh, King, believe, As three strong fires a sacrifice achieve If we three in a lonely place attain To see him, no doubt is, the King of men Duel with one of three will undertake, In pride and strength and greed of glory’s sake Grandiose of heart, duel with Bhema claim But Bheme great-armed, Bheme vigorous for him Suffices, even as death that closes all Sufficient is for the immense world’s fall. King, if my heart thou knowest and if trust Thou hast in me at all, then as a just And dear deposit in my hands implied Bheem and Arjoona give.” And the King cried, “Achyuta, O Achyuta, never so, O hero, speak, O slayer of the foe. Thou art the Pandav’s lord, their refuge thou. Govinda, all thou speakest I avow Truth merely; (whom thou guidest are not men Fortune abandons. Nay, already slain King Jarasandha is, rescued already Those kings of earth, and won and greatly ready Imperial Sacrifice, now that I stand, O first of men, in thy controlling hand. Page – 50 Quickly this work to accomplish, be it planned But prudently; for without you no zest, No courage I have to live, as one distressed One overcome with sickness, who lives on When life no meaning has but pain alone.) Without the child of Pandu Krisna is none, Nor possible without Krishna Pritha’s son. By Krishna led unvanquishable are these. Splendid in strength, strongest of strong men is, Vricodar: joined and made a third with you, Famous and noble, nought is he may not do. (Well led the armed multitudes effect Great deeds, but led must be by men elect. Blind and inert mere strength is, all its force Impetuous but a block. As by that course Where dips the soil, there water’s led and whence A gap most opens rivermen lead thence Water, even such is guiding policy.) Therefore, Govinda, in thy hand are we, Whom the world names its hero famousest For conduct and in that great science best. Krishna whose strength is wisdom, counsel, who Is girded with resource, Krishna must you Put in your van with action’s every need: So only action’s purpose may succeed: Arjoon by Krishna led, Bheema by Arjoon: Then conduct, victory, strength — these three triune Shall grow and conquer, making valour good.” He said, and those three huge in hardihood, The Vrisnny
hero and the Pandavs twain, To Girivraj, the city of the hills, A nation of the four-fold orders fills, A prosperous race and glad, they travelled are, Flushed with high festival and void of care (A virgin city inviolable in war). So came they to the city gates where soared
‘ For I shall live as lasts a man distressed, Page – 51 The height by Brihadratha’s sons adored And all the people, one of peaks that stand, Delightful hills, Chytyac, in Magadh land; — Thither they storming came. There Rishabha, The eater of forbidden flesh, to slay Came Brihadrath the king (and slew and bound Three war-drums with its hide whose threatening sound Far borne through a whole month went echoing). These in his city placed the Maagadh king. (Covered with dust of glorious blossoms there The drums hurled oft their thunders through the air.) But now came storming to the Chytyac-wall The heroes and the war-drums broke and all Upon the rampart fell as if to smite The very head of Jarasandha’s might: Chytyac, the ancient peak enorm, deep-based, Ever with flowers and fragrance worshipped, vast And famous, with Titanic force of arm Assailed and overthrew with loud alarm; So leaped exulting through no usual gate. To war with Jarasandh they came, and yet Weapons of war had none, with their arms merely Sworded and shielded with the vow austerely Assumed wherein men enter worldly life, Snatucs. A town they saw with riches rife, Food-mart and flower-mart and populous street, In all desirable wealth grandly complete. So went they mid the shops and highroad wide And from the garland-makers in the pride Of hostile strength fresh garlands violently They mastered. Then in bright variety Of garments many-hued the mighty three With wreaths and burnished ear-rings bright a fame To Jarasandha’s lordly dwelling came. As lions of the Himalaya eye A cattle-pen, so they the palace high. But on the Maagadh men amazement fell Seeing those shapes of heroes formidable, Page – 52 Like elephants in strength, broad-breasted, wide And great of shoulder and like boles their arms Of shaal trees mighty, fit for warlike harms; Now sandal-smeared and rubbed with aloe-scent, They through the courts in courage arrogant Pass sternly, through three crowded courts attain The royal presence freed from anxious pain. And the great King arose, for them he judged Worthy of high guest-offerings, nowise grudged The water for the feet, the honied curds And gifts of kine, but with deserved words Greeted them crying “Welcome, holy men”. And no word answered him the Pandavs twain. Then Krishna in their midst, the man of mind, Said only, “King of kings, these two must bind Silence till midnight hour, envisaging Their vow. Then will they speak to thee, O King.” So in the chamber sacrificial placed They sojourned and the King with awe possessed Returned to his high mansion. But when night Was deep, went the strong arbiter of fight To those three twice-born; for his vow preferred Compelled him, through earth famous, when he heard Of Snatac Brahmms in his city bright To meet them even in the deep midnight. And they indeed with strange astonishment Dismayed him and their garments hue-besprent Unwonted. As he came the three arose, The lion men, the victors of their foes. “Welfare, O King,” they cried, and each on each They looked and scanned the King awaiting speech. Then to those lords concealed in priestly dress The King said with his haughty graciousness, “Sit, holy men.” They sat, heroic forms Blazing with mightier beauty than informs The fires of sacrifice, when a great king Sacrifices. And sternly censuring Disguise and travesty of shape sincere Page – 53 The conqueror steadfast, “Why come you here, Not as the Snatac, in this transient world Who takes the household vow, the Brahmin. Curled Garlands he wears not, smears not sandal paste. What names are yours who come in flowers dressed, Upon your mighty arms the bowstring scored (And wearing heroism like a sword,) Yet Brahminhood pretend? Speak truth whence springs Your race. (Truth is the ornament of kings.) Splitting the Chytyac peak fiercely you came, Yet wear a vain disguise to hide a flame Yourselves reveal. Where no gate was, no path Allowed, you entered, nor a monarch’s wrath Calamitous feared; and are ye Brahmins? Bright In speech the Brahmin; speech his only might And prowess. You whose deeds your caste deny, What needing come you to my palace high? And wherefore took you not the offering To guests observed but scorned Magadha’s King?” Then Krishna in a deep and quiet voice Replied, adept in words of exquisite choice. “Brahmins thou deemest us whom duties call Worldward, but Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vyshya, all Equal entitled are to Snatachood; Vows personal, vows general, both are good. But those the Kshatriya’s majesty prepare, To Kshatriyas those belong. Flowers if we wear, Who decks his aspiration stern with flowers, The majesty he wins outbraves the hours. (Rightly thou sayest, King, the Kshatriya’s might Speaks from his arm, in words has no delight, Wild words and many uses not; for God Set in the arm, its natural abode, The Kshatriya prowess) (which if thou aspire To see, surely we will not baulk desire; Today thou shalt behold it.) Nor debate Of path allowable and door and gate. No gate is in the house of enemies. Page – 54 By the plain door a friend’s house entered is, But by no door with ruin impetuous A foeman’s. These are virtue’s gates and thus Enters the self-possessed, right-seeing man. Nor offering hospitable take we can In foemen’s house with deeds upon our hands. This is our vow and this eternal stands.” And Jarasandh replied, “Enmity, strife I can recall not gazing through my life, Brahmins, with you begun, nor aught that men Pervert to hatred. Wherefore call you then A sinless man your enemy ? The good One practice keep, one rule well understood; And he, the Kshatriya who with causeless blame Lightly has taxed the innocent, he with maim Virtue curtails inheriting remorse: But he in virtue conversant, in force A warrior among warriors, if he act Other than good, has with his own hand hacked His own felicity here and there his soul Following the sinner’s way shall reach the sinner’s goal. Throughout the triple universe confessed The Kshatriya virtue, the Kshatriya life is best For nobleness, for goodness. Other rule They praise not who have learned in virtue’s school. That virtue and that life are mine. Steadfast Today I stand in them with spirit braced, Sinless before my people. And ye prate Madness.” Krishna made sterner answer: “Great Is he who sent us, of a mighty strain Upbearer, and upon his shoulders lain The burden of a deed for kindred blood. From him we come upon thee like a flood. Sinless dost thou, O Jarasandha, claim And thou the world’s great princes dost overwhelm Gathered for cruel slaughter ? When before Did kings on good kings tyranny explore ? But thou, a king, hast conquered and subdued, Page – 55 And Rudra’s altar thou wouldst have imbrued With blood of kings for victims. On our head Their piteous blood shall lie which thy hands shed. For we are Virtue’s and in her have force Virtue to bulwark. (Giving tyranny course, We share the sin.) Not yet the world has seen That crowning horror, butchery of men. O man, how couldst thou to a god devise, To Shankara, a human sacrifice ? (It is thy blood, thy kind thou levellest Comparing human natures with the beast.) Is there a man in all the world whose mind Like thine is violent, like thine is blind? But this remember, not with the deed man does There is an end; he reaps from what he sows And as he planted such the fruit he sees: (Footprints his action left, Fate treads in these.) Therefore ‘gainst thee, destroyer of our caste, We, champions of the miserable oppressed, For rescue of our kindred men are here To slay thee. But thou sayest, ‘What should I fear? There is no man in all the Kshatriya race And I am he alone.’ Great witlessness Is thine, O King, and error most unjust. What Kshatriya has a soul and lives but must Recall with pride his birth from valiant men ? Who would not by the way of battle then Enter the doors of Paradise eterne, Felicitous gates. When paradise to earn Heroes to war as to a sacrifice Initiate go, resistless then they rise Conquering Nature. ( Veda fathers heaven; To glory excellent its gates are given; Austerity masters it. In battle who falls He most infallibly wins the happy halls. For what is Indra’s heaven, what Paradise? Heaven in noble deeds and virtue lies.) By these the myriad-sacrificing god Page – 56 Conquered the Titans and the world bestrode. And what more excellent way to heaven than strife With thee ? Nor thou by lustiness of life Deceived and thy huge armies Magadhine Maddening with strength thy foemen quite disdain. In many hearts a fire of courage dwells That equals thine; nay, maybe, far excels. While these are hidden in the hands of fate, So long thou art supreme, but so long great. Yes, I will speak it, we, even we, can bear The brunt of all thy greatness. King, forbear Pride with thy equals and vain insolence. (O King, why wilt thou with thy son go hence, With all thy captains and great men below To Yama’s melancholy mansions go ? Were there not kings as great as thou?. Who strove With Brihadrath, Cartoveriya, Dambhodbhove, High Uttara? All they are sunk unmourned, Great kings and mighty captains; for they scorned Mightier than they.) No Brahmins, learn, are we, Antagonists of thy supremacy. Shourian I am and Hrishikesha styled; These are the Pandav heroes. Brother’s child I of their mother am — Krishna, thy foe. Take our defiance, King. In battle show Thy steadfast courage, prince of Magadha, Or while thou mayst, escape. Either this day Release the captive princes all or die.” Then answered Jarasandha puissantly: “Not without conquest I collect amain Princes; who is there penned my walls within And not in equal battle overthrown ? This is the law and life to Kshatriyas known, To battle and subdue and work their will Upon the conquered, Krishna, Owable Upon God’s altar I have gathered these; And shall I for ignoble fear release, While yet the Kshatriya blood beats in my veins, Page – 57 And yet one Kshatriya thought unquenched remains? Army with battled army, single gage With single or alone I will engage With two or three together or one by one.” So spake the King and ordered that his son Be straight anointed for the kingdom’s needs. (Himself must fight with men of dreadful deeds.) And in that hour King Jarasandha sighed Remembering, great captains who had died, Cowshic and Chitrasane, (but other names Men gave in converse with world-wide acclaims, Hamsa and Dimbhuc calling). Of them that night Recalled and shadow of the coming fight.
Then spake the Yadove pure and eloquent, Seeing the monarch upon battle bent: “With which of three will thy heart battle dare, O King, or which of us shall now prepare For battle?” Then that famous royal man, The Maagadh Jarasandh, with Bheemasen Chose battle. Wreaths, pigment of augury Bovine and all auspicious grammary, Medicaments beside that lighten pain Or call the fugitive senses back again, The high priest brought for Jarasandh and read The word of blessing o’er the monarch’s head.
Sabhaparva, Adhyayas 2O-22 and Adhyaya 23 incomplete Page – 58 |
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