02.017
Pancharatra: After departure of Brihadratha, as predicted by ChandaKaushika conquers various kings.
The demoness spoke.
My name is Jarā, O king, a demoness who can assume any form at will. I was honored in your house and lived happily. (2-17-1)
O king, I am she who, constantly thinking of how to reciprocate your favor, has seen these pieces of your son and remains righteous. (2-17-2)
O great king, by your fortune, the prince has come to you through my union by fate; I am only the instrument here. (2-17-3)
Kṛṣṇa said.
Having thus spoken, she disappeared there itself, O king. The king, taking the boy, entered his own house. (2-17-4)
At that time, the king did whatever was to be done for the boy. He also ordered a grand festival for the demoness among the Magadhas. (2-17-5)
His father, who was equal to Prajāpati, gave him the name there. Because he was joined by old age, he became known as Jarāsandha. (2-17-6)
He, the son of the lord of Magadha, grew up endowed with great brilliance and proper strength, like fire fed by offerings. (2-17-7)
Then, at a certain time, the great ascetic, the venerable Caṇḍakaushika, again approached the Magadhas. (2-17-8)
Bṛhadratha, delighted at his arrival, accompanied by his ministers, leading the way, with his wife and son, went out. (2-17-9)
O Bhārata, he worshipped him with water for washing feet, offerings of respect, and water for sipping. The king then offered to him his son along with the kingdom. (2-17-10)
The venerable sage, having accepted that worship from the kings, joyfully addressed the bard Magadha, O king, with a delighted heart. (2-17-11)
O king, I have known all this through the eye of knowledge. But now, O king, listen to what kind of person this son will become. (2-17-12)
O king, the kings will not be able to match the strength of this powerful one. Even weapons released by the gods will not harm him, just as the waters of rivers do not harm the mountain. (2-17-13)
Among all those who are anointed on the head, he will shine supreme; just as the sun, among all luminaries, removes their brilliance. (2-17-14)
Having come near him, kings endowed with prosperous strength and armies will rush to their destruction like moths to a flame. (2-17-15)
He will seize the prosperity arisen among all kings, just as the lord of rivers, the ocean, receives the rivers swollen with water during the rains. (2-17-16)
This earth, of great strength, upholding the fourfold order properly, prosperous and bearing all crops, supports both good and evil alike. (2-17-17)
All kings will come under his command, just as all embodied beings are subject to the wind, of him who is the self of all beings. (2-17-18)
The Magadhan himself will see this Rudra, the great god, the destroyer of Tripura, Hara, who is exceedingly strong in all worlds. (2-17-19)
Thus, while speaking in this manner, the sage, contemplating his own purpose, then dismissed King Bṛhadratha, the destroyer of enemies. (2-17-20)
Having entered the city, surrounded by his relatives and associates, and having anointed Jarāsandha as the lord of Magadha, then King Bṛhadratha attained supreme liberation. (2-17-21)
When Jarāsandha was consecrated, King Bṛhadratha, accompanied by his two wives, retired to the forest to practice austerities. (2-17-22)
O Bhārata, when the father was residing in the ascetic forest with the two mothers, Jarāsandha, by his own power, subjugated the kings. (2-17-23)
Then, after a long time, King Bṛhadratha, together with his wife, went to the forest of austerities and, having performed penance, attained heaven. (2-17-24)
She had two ministers, Haṃsa and Ḍibhaka, both destined to die by weapons, who were the wisest in counsel and most skilled in the science of war. (2-17-25)
Those two, whom I have already described to you as possessing great strength, are, in my opinion, sufficient to face the three worlds. (2-17-26)
Thus, O great king, this hero was at that time neglected by the powerful Kukuras, Andhakas, and Vṛṣṇis for reasons of state policy. (2-17-27)
