07.156
Arjuna said:
O Janardana, how did you, for our benefit, manage to kill Jarasandha and other earthly kings?
Vasudeva said:
Jarāsandha, the King of the Cedis, and the mighty Naiṣāda, if they had not been slain earlier, would now pose a great threat.
Suyodhana should certainly choose the best charioteers. They, who are always corrupted by us, should seek refuge with the Kauravas.
Indeed, these heroes, who are great souls and skilled warriors, would protect the entire army of Dhritarashtra as if they were immortals.
The son of a charioteer, Jarāsandha, the king of the Cedis, and the one born of a Niṣāda, allied with Suyodhana, oppressed the land.
O Dhananjaya, listen to me about those who were defeated by yoga. Without yoga, even the gods cannot be conquered in battle.
Each one of them, O son of Pritha, could indeed fight the entire divine army in battle, even if it were protected by the guardians of the world.
Jarāsandha, provoked and angered by the son of Rohini, hurled his red-faced mace with the intent to kill us.
She appeared like a thunderbolt released by Indra, making a parting in the sky's fiery radiance as she fell.
Upon seeing the mace approaching, the son of Rohini, Balarama, released the weapon known as Sthunakarna to counteract it.
The mace, halted by the weapon's speed, fell to the ground, splitting the earth and seemingly shaking the mountains.
There, the terrible demoness named Jara, known for her swift actions, joined the parts of the newborn, who was then named Jarasandha, the subduer of enemies.
Born from two mothers, each half-bodied separately, he was joined by her and thus is known as Jarāsandha.
But she, along with her sons and relatives, was struck down by Sthūṇākarṇa's mace and weapon, O son of Pritha, as she lay on the ground.
Jarāsandha, having lost his mace, was slain by Bhīmasena in the great battle as you watched, O Arjuna.
If Jarāsandha, who is mighty and holds a mace, were to exist, neither Indra nor the gods would be able to defeat him in battle, O best of men.
For your benefit, indeed, Nishada was separated by Drona using his thumb, having deceitfully acted as a teacher, showing true bravery.
But he, the Nishada, with his fingers protected and firm courage, shooting alone, appeared like another Rama, the forest-dweller.
O son of Pritha, even if Ekalavya lacks a thumb, neither gods nor demons, along with demons and serpents, can ever conquer him in battle.
What indeed can a mere human do to oppose? The firm-fisted and skilled one is always despised day and night.
"For your benefit, I have slain him in the forefront of the battle. The valiant king of Cedi was killed right before your eyes."
He is invincible in battle, unable to be defeated by any gods or demons. I have been born to kill him and other enemies of the gods.
Your ally, the tiger among men, for the welfare of the worlds, Hiḍimba, Baka, and Kirmīra were slain by Bhīmasena, who was equal in strength to Rāvaṇa and destroyers of the Brahma sacrifice.
The illusionist Alāyudha was killed by Haiḍimba in the same manner. Additionally, Haiḍimba was slain by Karṇa using strategy and power.
"If Karna had not slain him with his spear in the great battle, Ghatotkacha, the son of Bhimasena, would have been slain by me."
I did not kill this demon before for your sake of pleasing. Indeed, this demon is a hater of Brahmins and sacrifices.
The wicked soul who was the destroyer of righteousness has been slain by me. He was deceived by strategy, a plan given by Indra, O sinless one.
"Those who destroy dharma must be punished by me, O Pāṇḍava. This is my unwavering vow to uphold dharma."
Brahman embodies truth, self-control, purity, righteousness, modesty, prosperity, steadfastness, and forgiveness. Wherever I reside, I always pledge to you by truth.
Do not be disheartened by Karna, the son of Vikartana. I will guide you with a strategy to defeat him.
Vrikodara will defeat Suyodhana in battle, and I will reveal to you the strategy to kill him, O Pandava.
The tumultuous sound grows louder as it approaches the enemy army. Your soldiers are fleeing in all directions.
The Kauravas, having locked onto their target, are indeed striking your forces. Drona, the finest among the attackers, is burning your army.
