02.016
Pancharatra: Jarasanda’s two halves united by Jara
वासुदेव उवाच॥
Vāsudeva said.
जातस्य भारते वंशे तथा कुन्त्याः सुतस्य च। या वै युक्ता मतिः सेयमर्जुनेन प्रदर्शिता ॥२-१६-१॥
The mind that is united, which belongs to one born in the Bharata lineage and is the son of Kunti, has indeed been demonstrated by Arjuna. (2-16-1)
न मृत्योः समयं विद्म रात्रौ वा यदि वा दिवा। न चापि कञ्चिदमरमयुद्धेनापि शुश्रुमः ॥२-१६-२॥
We do not know the time of death, whether it is at night or during the day. Nor have we ever heard of anyone attaining immortality without engaging in battle. (2-16-2)
एतावदेव पुरुषैः कार्यं हृदयतोषणम्। नयेन विधिदृष्टेन यदुपक्रमते परान् ॥२-१६-३॥
Men should only do that which pleases the heart, approaching others by policy as prescribed by rule. (2-16-3)
सुनयस्यानपायस्य संयुगे परमः क्रमः। संशयो जायते साम्ये साम्यं च न भवेद्द्वयोः ॥२-१६-४॥
Among the wise and the blameless, in conflict, the highest order prevails. When there is equality, doubt arises; and equality would not exist between the two. (2-16-4)
ते वयं नयमास्थाय शत्रुदेहसमीपगाः। कथमन्तं न गच्छेम वृक्षस्येव नदीरयाः ॥ पररन्ध्रे पराक्रान्ताः स्वरन्ध्रावरणे स्थिताः ॥२-१६-५॥
Having adopted a strategy, we approach the enemy's body. How could we not reach the end, like streams reach the root of a tree? We have advanced into the enemy's breach, while standing guard over our own. (2-16-5)
व्यूढानीकैरनुबलैर्नोपेयाद्बलवत्तरम्। इति बुद्धिमतां नीतिस्तन्ममापीह रोचते ॥२-१६-६॥
It is the policy of the wise not to approach a stronger enemy with arrayed armies and supporting forces; this policy also pleases me here. (2-16-6)
अनवद्या ह्यसम्बुद्धाः प्रविष्टाः शत्रुसद्म तत्। शत्रुदेहमुपाक्रम्य तं कामं प्राप्नुयामहे ॥२-१६-७॥
Indeed, being blameless and unnoticed, having entered that enemy's house and approached his body, we may obtain our desire. (2-16-7)
एको ह्येव श्रियं नित्यं बिभर्ति पुरुषर्षभ। अन्तरात्मेव भूतानां तत्क्षये वै बलक्षयः ॥२-१६-८॥
O best of men, only one always bears prosperity; just as the inner self is for beings, so too, when that is destroyed, there is indeed a loss of strength. (2-16-8)
अथ चेत्तं निहत्याजौ शेषेणाभिसमागताः। प्राप्नुयाम ततः स्वर्गं ज्ञातित्राणपरायणाः ॥२-१६-९॥
Now, if, having slain him in battle and joined with the remaining ones, we may then attain heaven, being devoted to the protection of our relatives. (2-16-9)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
कृष्ण कोऽयं जरासन्धः किंवीर्यः किम्पराक्रमः। यस्त्वां स्पृष्ट्वाग्निसदृशं न दग्धः शलभो यथा ॥२-१६-१०॥
Kṛṣṇa, who is this Jarāsandha? What is his valor, what is his prowess, that, having touched you—who are like fire—he was not burnt, like a moth? (2-16-10)
कृष्ण उवाच॥
Kṛṣṇa said.
शृणु राजञ्जरासन्धो यद्वीर्यो यत्पराक्रमः। यथा चोपेक्षितोऽस्माभिर्बहुशः कृतविप्रियः ॥२-१६-११॥
Hear, O king, of the strength and valor of Jarāsandha, and how he, having done much harm, has often been disregarded by us. (2-16-11)
अक्षौहिणीनां तिसृणामासीत्समरदर्पितः। राजा बृहद्रथो नाम मगधाधिपतिः पतिः ॥२-१६-१२॥
There was a king named Bṛhadratha, lord of Magadha, proud in battle, who commanded three akṣauhiṇīs. (2-16-12)
रूपवान्वीर्यसम्पन्नः श्रीमानतुलविक्रमः। नित्यं दीक्षाकृशतनुः शतक्रतुरिवापरः ॥२-१६-१३॥
He is handsome, strong, fortunate, and of incomparable valor; always emaciated by consecration, he is like another Indra. (2-16-13)
तेजसा सूर्यसदृशः क्षमया पृथिवीसमः। यमान्तकसमः कोपे श्रिया वैश्रवणोपमः ॥२-१६-१४॥
He was as radiant as the sun, as patient as the earth, as fearsome as Yamāntaka when angry, and as wealthy as Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera). (2-16-14)
तस्याभिजनसंयुक्तैर्गुणैर्भरतसत्तम। व्याप्तेयं पृथिवी सर्वा सूर्यस्येव गभस्तिभिः ॥२-१६-१५॥
O best of the Bharatas, the entire earth is pervaded by his noble birth and qualities, just as it is by the rays of the sun. (2-16-15)
स काशिराजस्य सुते यमजे भरतर्षभ। उपयेमे महावीर्यो रूपद्रविणसंमते ॥२-१६-१६॥
He, the foremost of the Bharatas, married the daughter of the king of Kāśi, who was born of Yama, a woman of great beauty and wealth, and himself a man of great prowess. (2-16-16)
तयोश्चकार समयं मिथः स पुरुषर्षभः। नातिवर्तिष्य इत्येवं पत्नीभ्यां संनिधौ तदा ॥२-१६-१७॥
He, the foremost among men, made a mutual agreement between the two, declaring in the presence of his wives, 'I will not transgress in this way.' (2-16-17)
स ताभ्यां शुशुभे राजा पत्नीभ्यां मनुजाधिप। प्रियाभ्यामनुरूपाभ्यां करेणुभ्यामिव द्विपः ॥२-१६-१८॥
The king, lord of men, shone with his two wives, just as an elephant shines with two suitable and beloved female elephants. (2-16-18)
तयोर्मध्यगतश्चापि रराज वसुधाधिपः। गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये मूर्तिमानिव सागरः ॥२-१६-१९॥
The king, positioned between the two rivers, shone brilliantly, appearing like the very ocean incarnate between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā. (2-16-19)
विषयेषु निमग्नस्य तस्य यौवनमत्यगात्। न च वंशकरः पुत्रस्तस्याजायत कश्चन ॥२-१६-२०॥
Absorbed in sense pleasures, his youth slipped away, and he had no son to continue his lineage. (2-16-20)
मङ्गलैर्बहुभिर्होमैः पुत्रकामाभिरिष्टिभिः। नाससाद नृपश्रेष्ठः पुत्रं कुलविवर्धनम् ॥२-१६-२१॥
Despite performing many auspicious rites, oblations, and sacrifices by those desiring sons, the best of kings did not obtain a son who would increase his lineage. (2-16-21)
अथ काक्षीवतः पुत्रं गौतमस्य महात्मनः। शुश्राव तपसि श्रान्तमुदारं चण्डकौशिकम् ॥२-१६-२२॥
Then the son of Kākṣīvata, the great-souled Gautama, heard of Caṇḍakauśika, who was noble and exhausted from his austerities. (2-16-22)
यदृच्छयागतं तं तु वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितम्। पत्नीभ्यां सहितो राजा सर्वरत्नैरतोषयत् ॥२-१६-२३॥
By chance, the king, accompanied by his two wives, satisfied him who had taken shelter at the base of a tree with all kinds of jewels. (2-16-23)
तमब्रवीत्सत्यधृतिः सत्यवागृषिसत्तमः। परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते राजन्वरं वरय सुव्रत ॥२-१६-२४॥
Satyadhṛti, the truthful and foremost among sages, said to him: "O king, I am fully pleased with you. O virtuous one, ask for a boon." (2-16-24)
ततः सभार्यः प्रणतस्तमुवाच बृहद्रथः। पुत्रदर्शननैराश्याद्बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा ॥२-१६-२५॥
Then Bṛhadratha, together with his wife, bowed and said to him, his speech choked with tears due to the despair of seeing his son. (2-16-25)
बृहद्रथ उवाच॥
Bṛhadratha said.
भगवन्राज्यमुत्सृज्य प्रस्थितस्य तपोवनम्। किं वरेणाल्पभाग्यस्य किं राज्येनाप्रजस्य मे ॥२-१६-२६॥
O revered one, having given up the kingdom, I have set out for the forest of austerities. Of what use is a boon to one of little fortune? Of what use is a kingdom to me who has no offspring? (2-16-26)
कृष्ण उवाच॥
Kṛṣṇa said.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा मुनिर्ध्यानमगमत्क्षुभितेन्द्रियः। तस्यैव चाम्रवृक्षस्य छायायां समुपाविशत् ॥२-१६-२७॥
Hearing this, the sage, whose senses were agitated, entered meditation and sat down in the shade of that very mango tree. (2-16-27)
तस्योपविष्टस्य मुनेरुत्सङ्गे निपपात ह। अवातमशुकादष्टमेकमाम्रफलं किल ॥२-१६-२८॥
As the sage sat, a single eighth mango fruit, blown by the wind from the branch, indeed fell into his lap. (2-16-28)
तत्प्रगृह्य मुनिश्रेष्ठो हृदयेनाभिमन्त्र्य च। राज्ञे ददावप्रतिमं पुत्रसम्प्राप्तिकारकम् ॥२-१६-२९॥
Having taken that, the best among sages, after consecrating it with his heart and mantras, gave to the king the incomparable object that would cause the obtaining of a son. (2-16-29)
उवाच च महाप्राज्ञस्तं राजानं महामुनिः। गच्छ राजन्कृतार्थोऽसि निवर्त मनुजाधिप ॥२-१६-३०॥
The great sage, full of wisdom, said to the king: "Go, O king, your purpose is accomplished; return, O lord of men." (2-16-30)
यथासमयमाज्ञाय तदा स नृपसत्तमः। द्वाभ्यामेकं फलं प्रादात्पत्नीभ्यां भरतर्षभ ॥२-१६-३१॥
O bull among the Bharatas, having understood the proper time, the best among kings then gave one fruit to his two wives. (2-16-31)
ते तदाम्रं द्विधा कृत्वा भक्षयामासतुः शुभे। भावित्वादपि चार्थस्य सत्यवाक्यात्तथा मुनेः ॥२-१६-३२॥
They split that mango in two and both ate it, O auspicious one. Because the meaning was realized, and due to the sage's truthful words, it happened thus. (2-16-32)
तयोः समभवद्गर्भः फलप्राशनसम्भवः। ते च दृष्ट्वा नरपतिः परां मुदमवाप ह ॥२-१६-३३॥
When an embryo arose in both of them as a result of eating the fruit, and when the king saw them, he experienced supreme joy. (2-16-33)
अथ काले महाप्राज्ञ यथासमयमागते। प्रजायेतामुभे राजञ्शरीरशकले तदा ॥२-१६-३४॥
Then, O greatly wise one, when the proper time arrived, both were born, O king, in the two parts of the body. (2-16-34)
एकाक्षिबाहुचरणे अर्धोदरमुखस्फिजे। दृष्ट्वा शरीरशकले प्रवेपाते उभे भृशम् ॥२-१६-३५॥
When they saw the body, which had one eye, arm, and leg, half a belly, a mouth, and buttocks, lying in pieces, both of them trembled greatly. (2-16-35)
उद्विग्ने सह संमन्त्र्य ते भगिन्यौ तदाबले। सजीवे प्राणिशकले तत्यजाते सुदुःखिते ॥२-१६-३६॥
Agitated and greatly distressed, those sisters, after consulting together, O weak one, when he had departed with life still in the body, were deeply grieved. (2-16-36)
तयोर्धात्र्यौ सुसंवीते कृत्वा ते गर्भसम्प्लवे। निर्गम्यान्तःपुरद्वारात्समुत्सृज्याशु जग्मतुः ॥२-१६-३७॥
The two nursemaids, after carefully wrapping the children during the confusion of the births, quickly left them at the door of the inner apartment and departed at once. (2-16-37)
ते चतुष्पथनिक्षिप्ते जरा नामाथ राक्षसी। जग्राह मनुजव्याघ्र मांसशोणितभोजना ॥२-१६-३८॥
Then, the rākṣasī named Jarā, who feeds on flesh and blood, seized the tiger among men who had been cast at the crossroads. (2-16-38)
कर्तुकामा सुखवहे शकले सा तु राक्षसी। सङ्घट्टयामास तदा विधानबलचोदिता ॥२-१६-३९॥
But the demoness, desiring to act, who brought happiness, crushed (it) into pieces at that time, impelled by the power of fate. (2-16-39)
ते समानीतमात्रे तु शकले पुरुषर्षभ। एकमूर्तिकृते वीरः कुमारः समपद्यत ॥२-१६-४०॥
O bull among men, when those pieces were brought together in the proper measure, the heroic boy assumed a single form. (2-16-40)
ततः सा राक्षसी राजन्विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचना। न शशाक समुद्वोढुं वज्रसारमयं शिशुम् ॥२-१६-४१॥
Then, O king, the demoness, her eyes wide with astonishment, could not lift the child who was made of adamantine strength. (2-16-41)
बालस्ताम्रतलं मुष्टिं कृत्वा चास्ये निधाय सः। प्राक्रोशदतिसंरम्भात्सतोय इव तोयदः ॥२-१६-४२॥
The boy, making a fist with the copper plate and putting it in his mouth, cried out in great agitation, like a raincloud full of water. (2-16-42)
तेन शब्देन सम्भ्रान्तः सहसान्तःपुरे जनः। निर्जगाम नरव्याघ्र राज्ञा सह परन्तप ॥२-१६-४३॥
O scorcher of foes, by that sound, the people in the inner apartments, agitated, suddenly came out together with the king. (2-16-43)
ते चाबले परिग्लाने पयःपूर्णपयोधरे। निराशे पुत्रलाभाय सहसैवाभ्यगच्छताम् ॥२-१६-४४॥
Those women, weak and utterly exhausted, with breasts full of milk, having lost hope of obtaining a son, suddenly approached. (2-16-44)
अथ दृष्ट्वा तथाभूते राजानं चेष्टसन्ततिम्। तं च बालं सुबलिनं चिन्तयामास राक्षसी ॥२-१६-४५॥
Then, seeing the king in such a condition and the ongoing activity, and observing that strong boy, the demoness began to ponder. (2-16-45)
नार्हामि विषये राज्ञो वसन्ती पुत्रगृद्धिनः। बालं पुत्रमुपादातुं मेघलेखेव भास्करम् ॥२-१६-४६॥
I am not worthy, living in the king's domain and desiring his son, to take away the child, just as a streak of cloud cannot take away the sun. (2-16-46)
सा कृत्वा मानुषं रूपमुवाच मनुजाधिपम्। बृहद्रथ सुतस्तेऽयं मद्दत्तः प्रतिगृह्यताम् ॥२-१६-४७॥
She assumed a human form and said to the king: "Bṛhadratha, accept this son of yours, who has been given by me." (2-16-47)
तव पत्नीद्वये जातो द्विजातिवरशासनात्। धात्रीजनपरित्यक्तो मयायं परिरक्षितः ॥२-१६-४८॥
By the command of the foremost of the twice-born, this child was born to your two wives. Abandoned by the nurse, I have protected him. (2-16-48)
ततस्ते भरतश्रेष्ठ काशिराजसुते शुभे। तं बालमभिपत्याशु प्रस्नवैरभिषिञ्चताम् ॥२-१६-४९॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, O daughter of the king of Kāśi, O auspicious one, they quickly approached the boy and anointed him with sacred waters. (2-16-49)
ततः स राजा संहृष्टः सर्वं तदुपलभ्य च। अपृच्छन्नवहेमाभां राक्षसीं तामराक्षसीम् ॥२-१६-५०॥
Then the king, delighted after perceiving everything, asked the new golden-hued demoness, that rākṣasī. (2-16-50)
का त्वं कमलगर्भाभे मम पुत्रप्रदायिनी। कामया ब्रूहि कल्याणि देवता प्रतिभासि मे ॥२-१६-५१॥
Who are you, O lotus-wombed one, giver of a son to me? Out of desire, speak, O auspicious goddess, you appear before me. (2-16-51)
