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
Bharata race, fight with him with thy arms, putting forth as much
strength only as thy antagonist hath now left!' Then that slayer of
hostile heroes, the son of Pandu, thus addressed by Krishna, understood
the plight of Jarasandha and forthwith resolved upon taking his life.
And that foremost of all men endued with strength, that prince of the
Kuru race, desirous of vanquishing the hitherto unvanquished
Jarasandha, mustered all his strength and courage."
SECTION XXIV
Vaisampayana said,--"thus addressed, Bhima firmly resolved upon slaying
Jarasandha, replied unto Krishna of the Yadu race, saying,--'O tiger of
the Yadu race, O Krishna, this wretch that yet stayeth 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,
Krishna, desiring to encourage that hero to accomplish the death of
Jarasandha without any delay, answered,--'O Bhima, exhibit today upon
Jarasandha the strength thou hast luckily derived, the might thou hast
obtained from (thy father), the god Maruta.' Thus addressed by Krishna,
Bhima, that slayer of foes, holding up in the air the powerful
Jarasandha, began to whirl him on high. And, O bull of the Bharata
race, having so whirled him in the air full hundred times, Bhima
pressed his knee against Jarasandha's backbone and broke his body in
twain. And having killed him thus, the mighty Vrikodara uttered a
terrible roar. And the roar of the Pandava mingling with that death
knell of Jarasandha, while he was being broken on Bhima's knee, caused
a loud uproar that struck fear into the heart of every creature. And
all the citizens of Magadha became dumb with terror and many women were
even prematurely delivered. And hearing those roars, the people of
Magadha thought that either the Himavat was tumbling down or the earth
itself was being rent asunder. And those oppressors of all foes then,
leaving the lifeless body of the king at the palace gate where he lay
as one asleep, went out of the town. And Krishna, causing Jarasandha's
car 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. And those kings rescued from terrible fate,
rich in the possession of jewels, approaching Krishna made presents
unto him of jewels and gems. And having vanquished his foe, Krishna
furnished with weapons and unwounded and accompanied by the kings (he
had released), came out of Girivraja riding in that celestial car (of
Jarasandha). And he also 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 foe, accompanied by the possessor of great
strength (Bhima), came out of that fort with Krishna driving the car
whereon he rode. And that best of cars, incapable of being vanquished
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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