02.018
Pancharatra: Under the leadership of Krishna Bhima and Arjuna reach the capital of Magadha.
Vāsudeva said.
Haṃsa and Ḍibhaka, the ministers of Kamsa, have fallen and been slain. Now, the time for the death of Jarāsandha has come. (2-18-1)
He cannot be defeated in battle even by all the gods and asuras; we understand that he is to be conquered only by a battle for life. (2-18-2)
In me lies policy, in Bhīma lies strength, and Arjuna protects the two of us. O king, we three shall accomplish that task like three fires. (2-18-3)
There is no doubt that the king, having been confronted by the three of us in a solitary place, will engage in battle alone. (2-18-4)
Insulted and provoked by the exertion of the people, Bhīmasena will certainly approach for battle. (2-18-5)
Enough of him; the mighty-armed and very powerful Bhimasena is like Antaka (Death) for the destruction of the agitated world. (2-18-6)
If your heart truly knows and you have faith in me, then quickly entrust Bhīmasena and Arjuna to me as a pledge. (2-18-7)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus addressed by the venerable one, Yudhishthira replied, after looking at Bhima and Arjuna, who stood with delighted faces. (2-18-8)
O Acyuta, O Acyuta, do not speak in this way, O Mitrakarṣaṇa. You are the protector of the Pāṇḍavas; we have taken refuge in you. (2-18-9)
Govinda, as you say, all this is appropriate. Indeed, you are not present before those from whom fortune has turned away. (2-18-10)
Jarāsandha has been slain, the kings have been freed, and I have accomplished the Rājasūya sacrifice by following your command. (2-18-11)
O best of men, just as you quickly accomplish this task, in the same way, do my work, which is the work of the world. (2-18-12)
Truly, without you three, I cannot live; deprived of righteousness, desire, and wealth, I am like a man in distress, afflicted by disease. (2-18-13)
Neither can Arjuna succeed without Kṛṣṇa, nor Kṛṣṇa without Arjuna; in this world, neither of the two is invincible without the other—this is my opinion. (2-18-14)
This Vṛkodara, who is the best among the strong and prosperous, together with you two heroes—what could this greatly renowned hero not accomplish? (2-18-15)
A well-directed force truly accomplishes excellent deeds. Strength that is blind and dull, they say, must be guided by the wise. (2-18-16)
Just as water flows downwards from where there is a slope, and from where there is a hole it is drawn, so too the wise and the wealthy draw strength from wherever it is available. (2-18-17)
Therefore, we, relying on Govinda, the man renowned in the world as a knower of the rules of policy, strive for the accomplishment of our task. (2-18-18)
Therefore, O Kṛṣṇa, one should perform actions with the strength of wisdom and the proper means, in order to accomplish the intended purpose. (2-18-19)
In this way, O best of the Yadus, for the accomplishment of the task, Arjuna should follow Kṛṣṇa, and Bhīma should follow Dhanañjaya. Policy, victory, and strength, when combined with prowess, will lead to success. (2-18-20)
After these words were spoken, all the powerful brothers—Kṛṣṇa, the descendant of Vṛṣṇi, and the two sons of Pāṇḍu—set out for Magadha. (2-18-21)
Having covered the garments of the illustrious Brāhmaṇas and graduates, they were greeted by their friends with pleasing words. (2-18-22)
Then, for the sake of their kinsmen, the leaders, tormented by anger, assumed a terrible form, resembling the forms of the sun, moon, and fire. (2-18-23)
Seeing Jarāsandha slain, he considered the two Kṛṣṇas, led by Bhīma, united in purpose and undefeated in battle. (2-18-24)
Indeed, those two great-souled lords are initiators of all actions, and are like controllers in restraining actions related to dharma, artha, and kāma. (2-18-25)
They departed from the Kurus, but passing through the middle of the Kuru-jāṅgala region, after reaching the beautiful lotus-lake and crossing Kālakūṭa. (2-18-26)
The Gaṇḍakī, Śoṇa, and Sadānīrā rivers, in the same way, all flow from a single mountain, proceeding in order. (2-18-27)
After crossing the beautiful Sarayu and seeing the eastern Kosalans, they proceeded to Mithila, the region of Mala, and the river Carmanvati. (2-18-28)
Having crossed the Gaṅgā and the Śoṇa rivers, all three of them, the Kurus, facing east, went to Aśchada in the Magadha region, the infallible ones. (2-18-29)
They, traveling by bullock-cart, passed through a region always filled with herds of cows, abundant in water and auspicious trees, and upon reaching the mountain, they saw the city of Magadha. (2-18-30)
