02.020
Pancharatra: Having heard the accusations of Krishna, Jarasandha prepares for the battle.
Jarāsandha said.
I do not recall any enmity ever committed by you. Even when I reflect, I do not perceive any fault on your part. (2-20-1)
When there is a change and something is absent, how do you consider me, who am not guilty? O Brāhmaṇas, declare who the enemy is; for this indeed is the custom of the virtuous. (2-20-2)
Now, indeed, when dharma is violated, the mind is greatly tormented. Whoever harms the innocent, even if he is a kṣatriya, there is no doubt about it. (2-20-3)
Therefore, if a knower of dharma and one of great vows acts otherwise in the world, he attains the path of the sinful and even destroys the path of the virtuous. (2-20-4)
In all three worlds, the duty of the warrior class is indeed the most excellent for those who act righteously; you speak as if the subjects are not guilty, but it is due to negligence. (2-20-5)
Vāsudeva said.
O great king, usually one person, a family-uplifter, bears the family duty; but by your assignment, indeed, we three have arisen. (2-20-6)
O king, you have seized the kṣatriyas, the inhabitants of the world; having thus committed a cruel sin, do you think yourself blameless? (2-20-7)
O king, how could a king harm the virtuous, O best of kings? Therefore, restraining the king, you wish to make an offering to Rudra. (2-20-8)
O Bārhadratha, let that sin committed by you fall upon us, for we are indeed capable of protecting dharma, being followers of dharma. (2-20-9)
The support of men has never been seen. So how do you wish to worship the god Śaṅkara with human means? (2-20-10)
One of the same caste will indeed designate those of the same caste as animals. Who else, O Jarāsandha, would act thus with such vain intellect as you? (2-20-11)
They, seeing you as the cause of the destruction of kinsmen, and we, who follow the afflicted, have come here to restrain you for the purpose of increasing the kinsmen. (2-20-12)
O king, there is no other man among the kṣatriyas as you think; that is indeed a very great confusion of your intellect. (2-20-13)
O king, what kṣatriya, knowing his own noble birth, would not enter the incomparable and imperishable heaven that comes immediately after battle? (2-20-14)
O king of Magadha, know that the warriors, having consecrated themselves in the battle-sacrifices, indeed seek heaven alone and worship the worlds. (2-20-15)
O king, victory is the origin of heaven; great fame is the origin of heaven; austerity is the origin of heaven; in battle, the path is he who is steadfast. (2-20-16)
This is indeed the victorious quality of Indra, ever steadfast, by which, having conquered the demons, Indra, the hundred-sacrificer, protects the world. (2-20-17)
Who, having attained heaven, could have enmity as you do? The Magadhas, with their vast armies, made arrogant by their abundant strength. (2-20-18)
Do not look down upon others, O king; strength is not found in every man. The energy that is with you alone, O lord of men, is equal (to none). (2-20-19)
As long as it is not awakened, let it remain yours. This is bearable for us; therefore, O king, I say this to you. (2-20-20)
O Māgadha, abandon pride and arrogance among your equals; do not go, along with your son, ministers, and army, to the abode of Yama (death). (2-20-21)
Dambhodbhava, Kārtavīrya, Uttara, and Bṛhadratha—these powerful kings, though superior, perished here because they disregarded others. (2-20-22)
We are not Brahmin speakers desiring liberation from you. I am Śauri, Hṛṣīkeśa, and these two are the heroic Pāṇḍavas. (2-20-23)
We call upon you, O king, stand firm and fight, O Māgadha. Either release all the kings, or do not go to the abode of Yama. (2-20-24)
Jarasandha said.
I do not take any kings who have not been conquered. Who is there here who, having been conquered, still remains unconquered by me? (2-20-25)
This is said to be the righteous livelihood for a kṣatriya: agriculture. By exertion and bringing things under control as desired, one should act accordingly. (2-20-26)
O Kṛṣṇa, having fulfilled my duty for the deity, how could I, out of fear of the king, abandon my warrior's vow today, while remembering it? (2-20-27)
I will fight an army with an arrayed army, one with one, or again; with two, with three, or I will fight, either simultaneously or separately. (2-20-28)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having said this, Jarāsandha, desiring battle and impressed by Bhīma's deeds, then ordered the anointing of Sahadeva as king. (2-20-29)
But the commander king, O bull among the Bharatas, remembered Kauśika and Citraseṇa when that battle was present. (2-20-30)
The two, whose names in the world are 'Haṃsa' and 'Ḍibhaka', were formerly spoken of by men in the world of men and are honored by people. (2-20-31)
But, O king, the mighty Śaurī, recalling that king, the foremost among the strong, a tiger among men whose valor was like a tiger's. (2-20-32)
The truthful Yudhiṣṭhira assigned Jarāsandha, who was as mighty as Bhīma on earth, to be slain by another; this was designated by Acyuta, the earth-bearer (Kṛṣṇa). (2-20-33)
Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa), not for himself or for the self-realized, but as the chief, desiring to fulfill Brahmā's command, set out to kill, being the younger brother of Haladhara (Balarāma). (2-20-34)
