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Balarama did not like that the Kurus and Yadus should fight with one another. So he went himself to Hastinapura. He remained outside the town and sent Uddhava to learn the views of Dhrita-Rashtra. The Kurus came in a body to receive Balarama. When the formalities were over, Balarama composedly asked the Kurus, in the name of king Ugrasena, to restore Samba. The Kurus proudly replied: "We have given the kingdom to the Vrishnis and Yadus. A wonder indeed, they want to become our equals and to dictate to us! Surely the lamb cannot take away the lion’s game." Balarama thought how foolish the Kurus had become. They did not know the powers of Ugrasena and of Krishna. In anger he exclaimed, "I will make the earth to be stripped of all Kauravas" He took his plough and gave a pull to Hastinapura. The town be- came topsy-turvy. The Kurus came and adored him. They brought back Samba and Lakshanaé. Duryodhana made large presents and Balarama became appeased. He went back with Samba and his bride to Hastinapura and related what had happened to the Yadus. NARADA AND THE WIVES OF SRI KRISHNA. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 69. "What a wonder that Sri Krishna married 16 thousand girls, all at one and the same time, with but one body!" So thought Narada and he came to see things with his own eyes at Dvaraka. He entered one Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 361 of the rooms and found Krishna seated with one of the girls. Krishna washed the feet of Narada and sprinkled the water over his body. The Rishi entered another room. Krishna was playing at dice with one of his wives and with Uddhava. He entered another room and found Krishna was taking care of his children. So he entered room after room. Krishna was either bathing or making preparations for the sacrifice, or feeding Brahmanas, or mak- ing recitals of Gayatri, or riding, or driving, or taking counsel of min- isters, or making gifts, or hearing recitals of sacred books. He was in one place following Dharma, in one Artha and in another Kama. Narada smiled and said:—"O Lord of Yoga, I know the Yogic Maya, by service at Thy feet, as it is manifest in me, though hard of percep- tion by those that are themselves under the influence of Maya. Now permit me to roam about the Lokas, filled with Thy glory, singing Thy deeds, which purify all the worlds." Sri Krishna said:— "O Brahmana, I am the teacher, the maker and the recogniser of Dharma. It is to teach people that I have resorted to all this. O Son, do not be deluded." THE RAJA SUYA AND JARASANDHA. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 70-73. Krishna was holding council in the Assembly Room called Sud- harma. A Brahmana came as a messenger from the Rajas who had been imprisoned by Jarasandha and confined in a hill fort. The Ra- jas sought their delivery from Krishna, who had defeated Jarasandha seven times and had been defeated by him only once. Narada appeared at the time. Krishna enquired from him about the Pandavas. The Rishi said:— "Raja Yudhisthira intends to perform the great Yajna Raja Saya in Thy honor. Please give thy consent". Krishna turned towards Ud- dhava and asked for advice. Uddhava gauged the feelings of Narada, of Krishna and the as- sembly and said:— "It is meet thou shouldst help thy cousin in the performance of Raja Sttya Yajna and also that thou shouldst protect the Rajas that 362 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana seek relief from thee. Kings all round will have to be conquered at the Raja Sta sacrifice. The defeat of Jarasandha will follow as a matter of course. Thus shall we see the fulfilment of our great desire and the liberation of the Rajas shall redound to Thy glory. Both ends will be served in this way. But Jarasandha is very powerful. He should not be fought with while at the head of his large army. Bhima is equal to him in strength. Let him fight singly with Jarasandha. That king does not refuse any prayer of Brahmanas. Let Bhima ask for single combat in the disguise of a Brahmana. Surely that son of Pandu will kill him in thy presence." Krishna gave kind assurances to the messenger of the captive kings and left for Hastinapura. The Pandavas vied with one another in shewing respectful love to Krishna and Arjuna delivered up the Khandava forest to Agni and liberated Maya. In return for this kindness, Maya made the magical assembly ground for the Yajna. All the kings were brought under submission by Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva and the allied kings, except Jarasandha. Bhima, Arjuna and Krishna went to the seat of Jarasandha in the disguise of Brahmanas. They begged hospitality from the king. King Jarasandha con- cluded from their voice, their shape and from the arrow marks on their hands that they were Kshatriyas. He also thought they were his acquaintances. "These are Kshatriyas, though they wear the marks of brahmanas. I will give them what they ask even though it be my own self, so difficult to part with. Is not the pure glory of Bali spread in all directions, though he was deprived of his lordly powers by Vishnu in the disguise of a Brahmana? Vishnu wanted to restore the lord- ship of the Triloki to India. Bali knew the Brahmana in disguise to be Vishnu. He still made over the Triloki to him, even against the protests of his Guru Sukra. This body of a Kshatriya, frail as it is, what purpose will it serve if wide fame is not acquired by means of it for the sake of a Brahmana?" Turning to Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima, Jarasandha said:—"O Brahmanas, ask what you wish for. Even if it be my own head, I shall give it to you." Krishna replied: "Give us a single combat, if you please, O King. We are Kshatriyas and have come for fight. We desire nothing else. Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 363 This is Bhima. This is his brother Arjuna. Know me to be their cousin Krishna, thy enemy." The king of Magadha broke out in loud laughter. In anger he then exclaimed:—"O fools, I will give you a fight then. But thou art a coward. Thou didst run away from Mathura and didst take shelter in the sea. This Arjuna is not my equal in age. He is not very strong. He is unlike me in his body. So he cannot be my rival. This Bhima is my match in strength." So saying he gave one club to Bhima and took one himself. The two heroes fought outside the town. The fight was a drawn one. Krishna knew about the birth, death and life of Jarasandha. He thought in his mind about the joining together by the Rakshasa woman Jara. (The legend is that Jarasandha was born, divided in two halves, which were put together by the Rakshasa woman Jara.) Krishna took a branch in his hand and tore it asunder. Bhima took the hint. He put his foot on one of the legs of Jarasandha and took the other in his hand and tore asunder the body in two equal parts. Krishna placed Sahadeva, the son of Jarasandha, on the throne of Magadha, He then liberated the kings who had been imprisoned by Jarasandha. They were twenty thousand and eight hundred in number. They saw Krishna with four hands and with all the divine attributes. Their eyes, tongues and noses all fed upon him, as it were, and their hands were stretched forth to receive him. They all fell at the feet of Krishna and began to adore him. "We do not blame the king of Magadha. O Lord, it is by Thy favor, that kings are deprived of their thrones. Humbled, we remember Thy feet. We do not long for any kingdom in this life, nor do we care for the fruits of good works after death. Tell us that which will keep the recollection of Thy feet ever fresh in this life." Sri Krishna replied:— "From this day forward let your devotion towards me, the Lord of all, be made firm and fixed. Your resolve is commendable. It is true as you say that riches and power turn the heads of princes. Look at Haihaya, Nahusha Vena, Ravana, Naraka and others. Though kings of Devas, Daityas and men, they came down from their lofty posi- tion through pride. Knowing as you do that the body and all other things that have a beginning have also an end, you should worship me, perform sacrifices and duly protect your subjects. Indifferent to 364 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana good and bad things alike, fix your minds completely on me and you shall attain me in the end." Krishna made arrangements for their comfort. At his bidding, Sahadeva supplied them with kingly dresses and valuable ornaments and gave them princely treatment. Krishna sent them to their re- spective kingdoms. Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna then returned to Hastinapura. SISUPALA. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 74. Yudhisthira commenced the performance of the Yajna. He asked permission of Krishna to make a respectful call on the priests that were to officiate at the ceremonies. Vyasa, Bharadvaja, Sumanta, Gotama, Asita, Vasishtha, Chyavana, Kanva, Maitreya and other Rishis, Drona, Bhishma, Kripa and others, Dhritarashra with his sons, Vidura, Brahmanas, Vaisyas and Sudras: all the kings and their sub- jects came to witness the Yajna. The Brahmanas prepared the sac- rificial ground with golden ploughs. They then initiated king Yud- histhira according to the Vedic rites. The Ritvik Brahmanas duly as- sisted at the performance of the Rajastiya. On the day of extracting Soma Juice, the king duly worshipped the priests and their assistants. Then the time came for worshipping those that were present at the assembly. Now who was to be worshipped first? There were many head-men present and the members consulted with one another as to who deserved to get the first offering but they could not come to a decision. Sahadeva then addressed the meeting thus:— "Sri Krishna, the Lord of the Satvats, deserves the first place. All the Devas, Time, Space, wealth and all else are but himself. He is the soul of the Universe.