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 Mathurâ 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 Jarâsandha. He thought in his mind about the joining together by the Râkshasa woman Jara. (The legend is that Jarâsandha was born, divided in two halves, which were put together by the Râkshasa 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 Jarâsandha and took the other in his hand and tore asunder the body in two equal parts. Krishna placed Sahadeva, the son of Jarâsandha, on the throne of Magadha, He then liberated the kings who had been imprisoned by Jarâsandha. 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." Sri Krishna replied: — "From this day forward let your devotion towards me, the Lord of all, be made firm and fixed. Your resolve is commendable. It is true as you say that riches and power turn the heads of princes. Look at Haihaya, Nahusha Vena, Râvana, Naraka and others. Though kings of Devas, Daityas and men, they came down from their lofty position through pride. Knowing as you do that the body and all other things that have a beginning have also an end, you should worship me, perform sacrifices and duly protect your subjects. Indifferent to good and bad things alike, fix your minds completely on me and you shall attain me in the end." Krishna made arrangements for their comfort. At his bidding, Sahadeva supplied them with kingly dresses and valuable ornaments and gave them princely treatment. Krishna sent them to their respective kingdoms. Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna then returned to Hastinâpura. SISUPÂLA. *SKANDHA X. CHAP. 74.*