Thereat as an elephant strikes, with his two tusks, his antagonist so amongst those two heroes proficient in club fighting the king Jarāsandha took possession of the eastern side and Baladeva of the southern side; and filling the ten quarters with their leonine shouts they struck each other (66–67). In that encounter the sound of Rāinā's club was heard like the clapping of a thunder-bolt, and that of Jarāsandha was like that of the riving of a mountain (68). The club, slipped off Jarāsandha's hand, could not agitate Rāma the foremost of the wielders of club and (firm as) the mount Vindhvā (69). By virtue of his great endurance and learning Jarāsandha, the king of Magadha, bore the strokes of Rāma's club and baffled them (70). Thereupon was heard in the sky a sweet voice, the witness of the world:—"O Rāma, O conferrer of honors, there is is no use of toiling any more. The king of Magadha is not to be slain by thee. As ordained by me the king of Magadha will, in no time, meet with his death" (71–72).
Hearing this Jarāsandha was possessed by absent-mindedness and Baladeva too did not strike him. Then the Vrishnis and other kings retired from the battle-field (73). Thus, O great king, when after slaying one another for a long time, Jarāsandha was defeated and fled away and when the other great car-warriors took to their heels, the army was shorn of soldiers (74). Then with their elephants, horses and cars, all those kings, like unto herds of deer pursued by a tiger, fled away in fear (75). That dreadful battle-field, when left off by the royal car-warriors whose pride was humiliated, was filled with beasts of prey and grew exceedingly terrible (76). O sinless one, after the mighty car-warriors had fled away, the highly effulgent king of Chedi, remembering his relationship with the Yādavas, approached Krishna encircled by his Kārusha and Chedi detachments. In order to make closer the tie of relationship he said to Govinda (77-78):—"O lord, O descendant of Yadu, I am the husband of thy father's sister. Thou art an object of affection unto me and therefore I have come to thee with my army (79). O Krishna, I had told king Jarāsandha of limited understanding 'O you of vicious intellect, do not quarrel with Krishna and desist from battle' (80). Jarāsandha however disregarded my words. He is therefore flying away unsuccessful from the battle-field with his followers. I have also left him to-day. That king is not returning to his city shorn of hostile feelings. He will again disturb thee with his sinful attack (81–82). Therefore, O Mādhava, do thou speedily leave this place, strewn over with dead bodies of men, filled with beasts of prey and resorted to by ghosts and goblins (83). Let us go with our army and followers to the city of Karavira and visit the king Vāsudeva Shrigāla (84). I have got these two cars ready for you drawn by fleet horses and consisting of daggers, discuses, axles and poles (85). May good betide thee, O Krishna; do ye get on them speedily and let us go to visit the king of Karavira" (86).
Hearing the words of the king of Chedi, the husband of his father's sister Krishna, the preceptor of the world, with a delighted mind, said (87):—"Alas! we were assailed with the fire of battle. But thou hast sprinkled us with the water of thy words according to place and time as befits a friend (88). O foremost of Chedis, rare in the world is a person who gives vent to well-meaning and sweet words in pursunance of time and place (89). O king of Chedi, beholding thee now we think that we have got a master. There will be nothing unattainable by us since a king, like thyself, is our friend (90). O thou the perpetuater of the Chedi race, while thou hast become our help we shall be able to slay Jarāsandha and other kings like him (91). O lord of Chedi, amongst kings, thou art the first friend of the Yadus and therefore thou shouldst superintend all other battles which will take place hereafter (92). Amongs the war-like kings who will survive us those, who will describe this battle of discus and mace and the defeat of the kings on the mount Gomanta, will repair to the celestial region. And they too, who will think of it, will also go (93–94). O king of Chedi, by the way pointed out by thee, we shall repair to the city of Karavira for our own well being" (95). Thereupon mounting a car drawn by horses fleet like the wind they passed over a long distance like three fires incarnate (96). Spending three nights on the way those three celestial-like heroes reached the foremost of cities Karavira on the fourth day and entered the auspicious place for their well-being (97).
| [269] | A species of elephants. This is one of the finest breeds, invaluable in a battle-field. |
CHAPTER C. BATTLE WITH SHRIGALA.
Vaishampayana said:—Being informed of their arrival and thinking that they would attack the city, king Shrigāla, terrible in battle and endued with the prowess of Indra, issued (out of the city) (1). Mounting a car filled with weapons, having the clatter of its axles for its smiles, adorned with variegated ornaments, filled with inexhaustible arrows and quivers, making a sound like that of the ocean, drawn by quick-coursing horses, embellished with strong golden axles, coursing like Garuda, governed by reins resembling the rays of the sun, effulgent like the sun and resembling the car of Indra he issued out of the city (2-6). In that foremost of cars capable of striking the chariots of the enemies Shrigāla approached Krishna like an insect approaching a flame (7). Bedecked with sharpened arrows, coats of mail, golden garlands, a white cloth and an Ushnisha (turban) the king Shrigāla, with a bow in his hand and having fiery eyes, began again and again to whirl his bow endued with the qualities of a lightning. And vomitting air begotten by anger, and effulgent like the flames of fire and burning in the lustre of his ornaments he was seen on the car like Sumeru the foremost of mountains (8-10). Stricken with fear at his shouts and the clatter of his car-wheels the Earth sank under his weight (11). Beholding the beautiful Shrigala approach like unto a patriarch and the incarnation of a mountain Vāsudeva was not pained (12). Gradually under the influence of ire Shrigāla, desirous of fighting, approached Vāsudeva by the help of a quick-coursing car (13). When beholding Vāsudeva seated at ease, Shrigāla ran towards him like unto clouds ranging towards a mountain. Vāsudeva, smiling a little, addressed himself too for giving him a return battle. Thereupon there took place a dreadful encounter between them like that of two infuriated elephants in a forest (14–15). Out of ignorance, the energetic Shrigāla, fond of war and proud of his position, said to Krishna who was present for battle (16).
"O Krishna, I have heard of thy work in the weak army of the stupid kings on the mount Gomanta who had no leader. I have heard too of the defeat of the useless Kshatriyas inexperienced in war and worthy of pity (17–18). However I am now stationed in the dignity of the emperor of the world, do thou wait before me. Thou art not expert in the art of war. Surely wilt thou fly away when I will obstruct thee (19). Thou art alone and I am with my army; so I should not fight with thee in this way. Come, I shall alone fight with thee; what is the use of other inferior men? We shall both engage in fight and one of us will meet with his death in a fair fight (20–21). If thou art slain, O Krishna, I shall be the only Vāsudeva in the world. And if I am slain thou shalt be the only one (22)."
Hearing those words of Shrigala and saying "Strike me as you wish" the forgiving Mādhava held up his discus (23). Thereupon losing his sense in anger in the battle field Shrigāla, of limited prowess, discharged a net of arrows at Krishna (24). The powerful Shrigāla showered on Krishna mace and various other weapons. And albeit ruthlessly assailed with weapons covered with flames of fire Krishna stood there motionless like a mountain (25–26). Thus attacked again and again he was filled with wrath. And holding up his discus he hurled it at Shrigala's breast (27). Having slain the highly powerful Shrigāla, fearful in battle, of growing pride and ever observant of Kshatriya duties, the discus Sudarshana returned to its preceptor's hand. Shrigala too, having his heart pierced by the discus, shorn of life and joy, fell down, bleeding like a cleft mountain (28-29). Beholding the king fallen like a mountain struck down by a thunder-bolt his soldiers lost heart and fled away, on the death of their king (30). Some, assailed by grief consequent upon the death of their lord and greatly stricken with sorrow, entered into the city and began to weep there (31). Some, not being able to forsake their fallen king and performing auspicious rites, began to bewail there with their hearts laden with grief (32).
Thereupon declaring safety unto the people assembled there with his fingers adorned with a discus having silvery handles, the lotus-eyed Krishna, the slayer of his enemies, said with a voice like the rumbling of clouds. "Do not fear! Do not fear (33–34)." Thus consoled by Krishna, and beholding their king, with his breast wounded, fallen on earth like a mountain with its summits struck down Shrigāla's subjects and ministers began to shed tears poorly and were filled with sorrow like his son (35-38). Hearing their cries and the hoarse noise of the citizens Shrigāla's queens, with their sons, came out weeping from the city (39). Arriving at the battle-field and beholding their worthy royal husband fallen in that plight they, striking their breasts with their hands, began to weep plaintively (40). Striking their breasts and tearing ruthlessly their curling hairs those women began to weep in a hoarse voice. And stricken with terrible grief and with their eyes full of tears they fell down on their husband's body like uprooted and roughly handled creepers (41–42). The eyes of the queens, full of tears, shone like lotuses divorced from water (43). Beholding their husband thus fallen, striking their breast and speaking of his actions they began to bewail plaintively (44).
Thereupon taking their weeping boy by name Shakradeva, to their husband's side, the the ladies, crying aloud with doubled force, said (45):—"O hero, although endued with prowess, this thy boy son has not been able to acquire mastery over the art of administration. Without thee how will he be able to attain to the dignity of his father (46)? O lord, we are not satiated with enjoying in thy company. How dost thou leave us all behind simultaneously What shall we all do, widows as we are (47)?"