02.016
Pancharatra: Jarasanda’s two halves united by Jara
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vāsudeva said.
jātasya bhārate vaṃśe tathā kuntyāḥ sutasya ca। yā vai yuktā matiḥ seyam arjunena pradarśitā ॥2-16-1॥
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)
na mṛtyoḥ samayaṃ vidma rātrau vā yadi vā divā। na cāpi kañcid amaram ayuddhena api śuśrumaḥ ॥2-16-2॥
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)
etāvad eva puruṣaiḥ kāryaṃ hṛdayatoṣaṇam। nayena vidhidṛṣṭena yad upakramate parān ॥2-16-3॥
Men should only do that which pleases the heart, approaching others by policy as prescribed by rule. (2-16-3)
sunayasyānapāyasya saṃyuge paramaḥ kramaḥ। saṃśayo jāyate sāmye sāmyaṃ ca na bhaveddvayoḥ ॥2-16-4॥
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)
te vayaṃ nayam āsthāya śatrudehasamīpagāḥ। katham antaṃ na gacchema vṛkṣasyeva nadīrayaḥ॥ pararandhre parākrāntāḥ svarandhrāvaraṇe sthitāḥ॥2-16-5॥
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)
vyūḍhānīkair anubalair no peyād balavattaram। iti buddhimatāṃ nītis tan mamāpīha rocate ॥2-16-6॥
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)
anavadyā hy asambuddhāḥ praviṣṭāḥ śatrusadma tat। śatrudeham upākramya taṃ kāmaṃ prāpnuyāmahe ॥2-16-7॥
Indeed, being blameless and unnoticed, having entered that enemy's house and approached his body, we may obtain our desire. (2-16-7)
eko hy eva śriyaṃ nityaṃ bibharti puruṣarṣabha. antarātmeva bhūtānāṃ tatkṣaye vai balakṣayaḥ ॥2-16-8॥
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)
atha cettam nihatyaājau śeṣeṇābhisamāgatāḥ। prāpnuyāma tataḥ svargaṃ jñātitrāṇaparāyaṇāḥ ॥2-16-9॥
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)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
kṛṣṇa ko'yaṃ jarāsandhaḥ kiṃvīryaḥ kimparākramaḥ। yastvāṃ spṛṣṭvāgnisadṛśaṃ na dagdhaḥ śalabho yathā ॥2-16-10॥
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)
kṛṣṇa uvāca॥
Kṛṣṇa said.
śṛṇu rājan jarāsandho yad vīryo yat parākramaḥ। yathā ca upekṣitaḥ asmābhiḥ bahuśaḥ kṛta-vipriyaḥ ॥2-16-11॥
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)
akṣauhiṇīnām tisṛṇām āsīt samara-darpitaḥ। rājā bṛhadratho nāma magadhādhipatiḥ patiḥ ॥2-16-12॥
There was a king named Bṛhadratha, lord of Magadha, proud in battle, who commanded three akṣauhiṇīs. (2-16-12)
rūpavān vīryasampannaḥ śrīmān atulavikramaḥ। nityaṃ dīkṣākṛśatanuḥ śatakratur ivāparaḥ ॥2-16-13॥
He is handsome, strong, fortunate, and of incomparable valor; always emaciated by consecration, he is like another Indra. (2-16-13)
tejasā sūryasadṛśaḥ kṣamayā pṛthivīsamaḥ। yamāntakasamaḥ kope śriyā vaiśravaṇopamaḥ ॥2-16-14॥
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)
tasyābhijana-saṃyuktair guṇair bharata-sattama। vyāptā iyam pṛthivī sarvā sūryasya iva gabhastibhiḥ ॥2-16-15॥
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)
sa kāśirājasya sute yamaje bharatarṣabha। upayeme mahāvīryo rūpadraviṇasaṃmate ॥2-16-16॥
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)
tayoś cakāra samayaṃ mithaḥ sa puruṣarṣabhaḥ। nātivartiṣya ityevaṃ patnībhyāṃ saṃnidhau tadā ॥2-16-17॥
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)
sa tābhyāṃ śuśubhe rājā patnībhyāṃ manujādhipaḥ। priyābhyām-anurūpābhyāṃ kareṇubhyām-iva dvipaḥ ॥2-16-18॥
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)
tayormadhyagataścāpi rarāja vasudhādhipaḥ। gaṅgāyamunayormadhye mūrtimāniva sāgaraḥ ॥2-16-19॥
The king, positioned between the two rivers, shone brilliantly, appearing like the very ocean incarnate between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā. (2-16-19)
viṣayeṣu nimagnasya tasya yauvanam atyagāt। na ca vaṃśakaraḥ putras tasyājāyata kaścana ॥2-16-20॥
Absorbed in sense pleasures, his youth slipped away, and he had no son to continue his lineage. (2-16-20)
maṅgalair bahubhir homaiḥ putrakāmābhir iṣṭibhiḥ। nāsasāda nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ putraṃ kulavivardhanam ॥2-16-21॥
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)
atha kākṣīvataḥ putraṃ gautamasya mahātmanaḥ। śuśrāva tapasi śrāntamudāraṃ caṇḍakauśikam ॥2-16-22॥
Then the son of Kākṣīvata, the great-souled Gautama, heard of Caṇḍakauśika, who was noble and exhausted from his austerities. (2-16-22)
yadṛcchayāgataṃ taṃ tu vṛkṣamūlamupāśritam। patnībhyāṃ sahito rājā sarvaratnairatoṣayat ॥2-16-23॥
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)
tam abravīt satyadhṛtiḥ satyavāg ṛṣisattamaḥ। parituṣṭo'smi te rājan varaṃ varaya suvrata ॥2-16-24॥
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)
tataḥ sabhāryaḥ praṇatastamuvāca bṛhadrathaḥ। putradarśananairāśyādbāṣpagadgadayā girā ॥2-16-25॥
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)
bṛhadratha uvāca॥
Bṛhadratha said.
bhagavan-rājyam-utsṛjya prasthitasya tapovanam। kiṃ vareṇa-alpabhāgyasya kiṃ rājyena-aprajasya me ॥2-16-26॥
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)
kṛṣṇa uvāca॥
Kṛṣṇa said.
etat-śrutvā munir-dhyānam-agamat-kṣubhita-indriyaḥ। tasyaiva ca āmravṛkṣasya chāyāyām samupāviśat ॥2-16-27॥
Hearing this, the sage, whose senses were agitated, entered meditation and sat down in the shade of that very mango tree. (2-16-27)
tasyopaviṣṭasya munerutsaṅge nipapāta ha। avātamaśukādaṣṭamekamāmraphalaṃ kila ॥2-16-28॥
As the sage sat, a single eighth mango fruit, blown by the wind from the branch, indeed fell into his lap. (2-16-28)
tatpragṛhya muniśreṣṭho hṛdayenābhimantrya ca। rājñe dadāvapratimaṃ putrasamprāptikārakam ॥2-16-29॥
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)
uvāca ca mahāprājñas taṃ rājānaṃ mahāmuniḥ। gaccha rājan kṛtārtho'si nivarta manujādhipa ॥2-16-30॥
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)
yathāsamayamājñāya tadā sa nṛpasattamaḥ। dvābhyāmekaṃ phalaṃ prādātpatnībhyāṃ bharatarṣabha ॥2-16-31॥
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)
te tadāmraṃ dvidhā kṛtvā bhakṣayāmāsatuḥ śubhe। bhāvitvād api ca arthasya satyavākyāt tathā muneḥ ॥2-16-32॥
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)
tayoḥ samabhavadgarbhaḥ phalaprāśanasambhavaḥ। te ca dṛṣṭvā narapatiḥ parāṃ mudamavāpa ha ॥2-16-33॥
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)
atha kāle mahāprājña yathāsamayamāgate। prajāyetāmubhe rājañśarīraśakale tadā ॥2-16-34॥
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)
ekākṣibāhucaraṇe ardhodaramukhasphije। dṛṣṭvā śarīraśakale pravepāte ubhe bhṛśam ॥2-16-35॥
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)
udvigne saha sanmantrya te bhaginyau tadābale. sajīve prāṇiśakale tatyajāte suduḥkhite ॥2-16-36॥
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)
tayor dhātryau susaṁvīte kṛtvā te garbhasamplave। nirgamyāntaḥpuradvārāt samutsṛjyāśu jagmatuḥ ॥2-16-37॥
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)
te catuṣpathanikṣipte jarā nāmātha rākṣasī। jagrāha manujavyāghra māṃsaśoṇitabhojanā ॥2-16-38॥
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)
kartukāmā sukhavahe śakale sā tu rākṣasī। saṅghaṭṭayāmāsa tadā vidhānabalacoditā ॥2-16-39॥
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)
te samānitamātre tu śakale puruṣarṣabha। ekamūrtikṛte vīraḥ kumāraḥ samapadyata ॥2-16-40॥
O bull among men, when those pieces were brought together in the proper measure, the heroic boy assumed a single form. (2-16-40)
tataḥ sā rākṣasī rājan vismayotphullalocanā। na śaśāka samudvoḍhuṃ vajrasāramayaṃ śiśum ॥2-16-41॥
Then, O king, the demoness, her eyes wide with astonishment, could not lift the child who was made of adamantine strength. (2-16-41)
bālas tāmratalaṃ muṣṭiṃ kṛtvā cāsye nidhāya saḥ। prākrośad atisaṃrambhāt satoya iva toyadaḥ ॥2-16-42॥
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)
tena śabdena sambhrāntaḥ sahasāntaḥpure janaḥ। nirjagāma naravyāghra rājñā saha parantapa ॥2-16-43॥
O scorcher of foes, by that sound, the people in the inner apartments, agitated, suddenly came out together with the king. (2-16-43)
te cābale pariglāne payaḥpūrṇapayodhare। nirāśe putralābhāya sahasaivābhyagacchatām ॥2-16-44॥
Those women, weak and utterly exhausted, with breasts full of milk, having lost hope of obtaining a son, suddenly approached. (2-16-44)
atha dṛṣṭvā tathābhūte rājānaṃ ceṣṭasantatim। taṃ ca bālaṃ subalinaṃ cintayāmāsa rākṣasī ॥2-16-45॥
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)
nārhāmi viṣaye rājño vasantī putragṛddhinaḥ। bālaṃ putram upādātuṃ meghalekheva bhāskaram ॥2-16-46॥
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)
sā kṛtvā mānuṣaṃ rūpam uvāca manujādhipam। bṛhadratha sutas te'yaṃ maddattaḥ pratigṛhyatām ॥2-16-47॥
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)
tava patnīdvaye jāto dvijātivaraśāsanāt। dhātrījanaparityakto mayāyaṃ parirakṣitaḥ ॥2-16-48॥
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)
tataste bharataśreṣṭha kāśirājasute śubhe। taṃ bālam abhipatyāśu prasnavair abhiṣiñcatām ॥2-16-49॥
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)
tataḥ sa rājā saṃhṛṣṭaḥ sarvaṃ tadupalabhya ca। apṛcchannavahemābhāṃ rākṣasīṃ tāmarākṣasīm ॥2-16-50॥
Then the king, delighted after perceiving everything, asked the new golden-hued demoness, that rākṣasī. (2-16-50)
kā tvaṃ kamalagarbhābhe mama putrapradāyinī। kāmayā brūhi kalyāṇi devatā pratibhāsi me ॥2-16-51॥
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)
