The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
Vaisampayana said,--"Thus saying those brothers of abundant energy,
viz., he of the Vrishni race and the two Pandavas entered the city of
Magadha. They then approached towards the impregnable city of Girivraja
that was full of cheerful and well-fed inhabitants belonging to all the
four orders, and where festivities were perennial. On arriving then at
the gate of the city, the brothers (instead of passing through it)
began to pierce (with their shafts) the heart of the high Chaityaka
peak that was worshipped by the race of Vrihadratha, as also by the
citizens and which delighted the hearts of all the Magadhas. There
Vrihadratha had slain a cannibal called Rishava and having slain the
monster made of his hide three drums which he placed in his own city.
And those drums were such that once beaten their sound lasted one full
month. And the brothers broke down the Chaityaka peak that was
delightful to all the Magadhas, at that point where those drums covered
with celestial flowers used to yield their continuous sound. And
desirous of slaying Jarasandha they seemed by that act of theirs to
place their feet upon the head of their foe. And attacking with their
mighty arms that immovable and huge and high and old and celebrated
peak always worshipped with perfumes and floral wreaths, those heroes
broke it down. And with joyful hearts they then entered the city. And
it so happened that the learned Brahmanas residing within the city saw
many evil omens which they reported to Jarasandha. And the priest
making the king mount an elephant whirled lighted brands about him. And
king Jarasandha also, possessed of great prowess, with a view to
warding of those evils, entered upon the celebration of a sacrifice,
with proper vows and fasts. Meanwhile, O Bharata, the brothers unarmed,
or rather with their bare arms as their only weapons, desirous of
fighting with Jarasandha, entered the capital in the guise of
Brahmanas. They beheld the extraordinary beauty of the shops full of
various edibles and floral wreaths, and supplied with articles of every
variety of various qualities that man can desire. Those best of men,
Krishna, Bhima, and Dhananjaya, beholding in those shops their
affluence, passed along the public road. And endued with great strength
they snatched forcibly from the flower-vendors the garlands they had
exposed for sale. And attired in robes of various colours and decked in
garlands and ear-rings the heroes entered the abode of Jarasandha
possessed of great intelligence, like Himalayan lions eyeing
cattle-folds. And the arms of those warriors, O king, besmeared with
sandal paste, looked like the trunks of sala trees. The people of
Magadha, beholding those heroes looking like elephants, with necks
broad like those of trees and wide chests, began to wonder much. Those
bull among men, passing through three gates that were crowded with men,
proudly and cheerfully approached the king. And Jarasandha rising up in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account