101 Battle was joined between them, a huge and tumultuous battle in which they set no store whatsoever by their lives, shooting streams of spears, lances, javelins, and arrows.
102 Meanwhile, Chitraka, Shyāma, manly Yuyudhāna Sātyaki, Rājādhideva, Mridura, mighty Shvaphalka, 103 Satrājit, and Prasena, surrounded by a large force, proceeded in battle against the left-hand flank of the enemy army. 104 With Mridura leading them, they attacked the half of the enemy army that was jointly protected by many kings—Venudāri and so on.*
82. Jarāsandha’s Escape
1 Vaishampāyana said:
Now the Vrishnis fought a great number of duels against the Magadhan king’s high-ranking ministers and subordinate kings. 2 Krishna Vāsudeva fought against Rukmin, Āhuka’s son Ugrasena fought against Bhīshmaka, Vasudeva fought against Kratha’s descendant Amshumat, Babhru fought against Āhriti the Kaishika, Gada fought against the Chedi king, Shambhu fought against Dantavaktra, 3 and other august royal Vrishni heroes fought against other kings. It was a battle between warriors and warriors, bull of the Bhāratas! 4 The fighters fought using elephants against elephants, cavalry against cavalry, infantry against infantry, and chariots paired against chariots, your majesty.
5 The encounter between Rāma and King Jarāsandha was as merciless and hair-raising as the one between Vritra and great Indra. 6 The multitudes of other troops were badly depleted, your majesty, and there was a quagmire of flesh and blood in both armies. 7 The headless trunks of soldiers lay all around the battlefield in great numbers—it would have been impossible to count them.
8 Brave Rāma, on his chariot, assailed Jarāsandha, covering him with arrows that were like poisonous snakes. And the king of Magadha did the same to him. 9 And when their horses and charioteers were dead and they’d run out of ammunition and lost their chariots, those mighty men grabbed their maces and charged at each other.
10 Making the earth tremble as they brandished their great maces, those two great heroes looked like two peaked mountains. 11 Both of them were man-bulls famous for mace-combat, and as they glared at each other and charged at each other in fury, other fights stopped. 12 Both of them were powerful and famous across the world as great teachers, and they charged at each other in battle as if they were elephants in musth. 13 The gods, light-elves, perfected saints, supreme seers, and celestial nymphs assembled in their thousands on all sides, 14 and when the sky was decorated by gods, dark-elves, light-elves, and great seers, your majesty, it looked exactly as it does when it’s decorated by the companies of stars and planets.
15 Mighty Jarāsandha charged at Rāma. Jarāsandha circled to the left, Baladeva circled to the right, and then 16 those experts in mace-combat attacked each other like elephants attacking with their tusks, filling the ten directions with noise. 17 The fall of Rāma’s mace sounded like the smash of a thunderbolt, as if the mountain that was Jarāsandha had been split apart at its base. 18 But the mace thrown from Jarāsandha’s hands didn’t trouble Rāma the supreme mace-bearer: he was as unmoved as the Vindhya mountains.
19 The master of Magadha was brave enough to withstand Rāma’s mace onslaught. He resisted it on account of his great fortitude and his training.
20 Then everyone heard a melodious voice in the sky. It said: Rāma Mādhava! This man can’t be killed by you, so stop tiring yourself out. 21 I’ve already planned his death, so really, you must stand down. It won’t be long before the Magadhan king loses his life.
22 When Jarāsandha heard this he was beside himself, and Halāyudha stopped attacking him. They both stopped. But as for the Vrishnis and the kings, 23 the battle of those great men continued unabated, your majesty. They assailed each other for a long time. 24 But when the condemned King Jarāsandha had retreated and the sun had set into the western horizon, they didn’t pursue each other at night.
25 When each side had gathered up its own troops, the mighty Vrishnis who’d distinguished themselves entered the town in high spirits, and Keshava praised them. 26 But although the Vrishnis had got the better of Jarāsandha, they didn’t yet consider him beaten, tiger of the Kurus, for he was a mighty monarch indeed.
27 The great Yādava warriors went into battle against Jarāsandha eighteen times, but they were unable to kill him in combat. 28 For King Jarāsandha had twenty armies, bull of the Bhāratas, which had gathered together on his account, 29 and the Vrishnis were few, bull of the Bhāratas, so Brihadratha’s son and the kings always overpowered them, your supreme majesty. 30 But whenever they got the better of King Jarāsandha of Magadha in battle, the great Vrishni warrior-lions celebrated.
83. Rāma Drags the Yamunā
1 Vaishampāyana said:
During this same period, Rāma thought about what had happened among the cowherds, and, with the approval of Krishna himself, he travelled to the herding station on his own. 2 On the way there he saw many delightful sights—the woodlands he used to enjoy, and the lovely lakes— 3 and when Krishna’s mighty elder brother arrived at the herding station shortly afterwards, he was dressed up with delightful forest decorations. 4 He greeted all the cowherds one after another in the correct and customary fashion, doing it properly, in order of age. 5 Then he told them sweet stories, delighting and entertaining them all, including the cowgirls. 6 And now that he’d come back again after his time away, the cowherd elders spoke kindly with sweet speeches to Rāma, the main cause of their joy:
7 Welcome to you, strong-armed son of the Yadu clan. We’re happy now that we see that you’re happy, Rāma boy. 8 Brave man, we’re delighted that you’ve come back here again—you, Rāma, who are famous across the three worlds and strike fear into your enemies. 9 Whether you came back just to cheer us up, joy of the Yādavas, or because all creatures love the place they were born, Rāma boy, 10 the thirty gods must certainly have deemed us worthy of honour today, because you thought of us just when we were longing for you to come, bright-faced boy.
11 It’s wonderful that in your greatness you and your younger brother have killed the wrestlers, toppled Kamsa, and installed Ugrasena. 12 We’ve also heard about the fight in the ocean with the whale, and we’ve heard how your weapons descended during the great battle, 13 and even the gods must be talking about your entry into Mathurā. The jewel-bearing earth is in safe hands, and all the kings are worried.
14 Having seen you arrive, we’re blessed just as we were in earlier days. We and our relatives are thrilled and delighted by your visit.
15 Then Rāma replied to everyone who was there:
You, of all the Yādavas, are my closest relatives. 16 We spent our childhoods together, we romped in the forest together. So how can we become strangers, when you raised us? 17 We’ve been fed in your homes, we’ve looked after your cows. You’re our relatives, all of you, and our friendship is clear.
18 While Halāyudha was telling these truths there in the midst of the cowherds, the faces of the cowherd women lit up with pleasure. Then mighty Rāma went into the forest and enjoyed himself.
19 On that occasion, for Rāma, the cowherds brought out the guardian goddess of liquor. They knew the right time and place, and he remembered who he was. 20 On that occasion Rāma was away in the forest, surrounded by his relatives, looking like a white cloud, and he drank the drink that inspires drunkenness. 21 Then the cowherds brought him various forest treats: lovely fresh flowers and fruits, 22 and various tasty foodstuffs, and things whose smells made his heart sing, and masses of lotuses and water-lilies, freshly lifted and picked.
23 His crown was slightly awry on his head with its charming locks, a sparkling earring hung from one ear, 24 and with his chest cooled by sandalwood and agarwood paste and draped with forest garlands, Rāma looked like Mount Mandara together with Mount Kailāsa. 25 Clothed in dark clothes that looked like fresh clouds, that pale-skinned man radiated beauty, like the moon with a garland of clouds. 26 With his plough hanging resting on his serpent-coils and his shining club clasped in one hand, 27 the supreme strongman, drunk, his face rolling, lo
oked like the lazy and languid moon does at night during the cool season.
28 Drunk, he called out to the Yamunā: Great river, I want to bathe. Shapely seeker of the sea, come closer to me, right up here.
29 Misguided by her feminine nature, she ignored Sankarshana’s speech as that of a drunk, and she didn’t come to that place. 30 Then, inspired by his drunkenness, strong and mighty Rāma was vexed. He took his plough in his hand and lowered its tip for dragging. 31 Lotus garlands tumbled onto the drinking ground and released their own special pollen-coloured fluid from their blossom stores.
32 Keeping its tip lowered, Rāma used the plough to grab the great River Yamunā by the bank and drag her, as if she were a wife straying from her duty.
33 The flow of the river’s waters was disturbed, she gathered and poured into pools, and she changed course, fearfully following the path of the plough. 34 As the plough pulled her path she followed its crooked impetus like a woman in a state of disorder, trembling in fear of Sankarshana.
35 Her ripe red lips were the sandy shores of the riverbed, her belt was the line of foam pressed out by the pounding waters, her tell-tale signs were the smiling creatures along her banks, 36 her crown was the rough waves, her erect nipples were the brahminy ducks, her limbs were the deep and twisting currents, and her birds and fish were anxious. 37 The glances from the corners of her eyes were the geese, her discarded linen clothing was the kans grass, and her tossed locks of hair were the plants on the banks. The flow of her waters was interrupted, 38 and the plough scratched the corners of her eyes. The agitated river was like a drunk woman staggering along the royal road. 39 The flow of her current was interrupted, and her course was taken off-course: she was dragged off forcefully by way of Vrindāvana Forest. 40 The River Yamunā was brought through the middle of Vrindāvana, and the birds that lived on her banks followed, screeching.
41 When the River Yamunā had come across to Vrindāvana Forest, she took the form of a woman and said to Rāma:
42 Have mercy, Rāma! This irregular deed frightens me. My water’s taken the wrong shape, 43 strong-armed son of Rohinī. By dragging me you’ve put me among the bad rivers—you’ve made me into someone who’s strayed from her own true path. 44 When I’ve carried my diverted waters and arrived at the sea, my co-wives are bound to mock me with their foamy laughter, proud of their own speed. 45 Krishna’s virile older brother, take pity on me, I implore you! You’re hurting me with your ploughing weapon. Resist your passion! 46 I bow my head to your two feet, Halāyudha. I want the course I was assigned. Where else am I to go, strong-armed man?
47 Bala watched, armed with his plough, as Yamunā, the wife of the restless ocean, made her speech. Then, tired and overcome with drunkenness, he replied:
48 Your path is as my plough has drawn it. Refresh this whole region of ours with the gift of your waters, good-looking—for my sake. 49 You’ve been given your instructions, illustrious river with the lovely eyebrows, so flow in peace. Move along pleasantly, and my fame will surely endure as long as the worlds endure.
50 When they witnessed the dragging of the Yamunā, all the cattle station’s inhabitants voiced their approval and bowed down before Rāma. 51 But Rohinī ’s son dismissed the fast-flowing river and all the cattle station’s inhabitants, and then he thought things over in his mind, came to a decision, and returned to Mathurā immediately.
52 When he got to Mathurā, Rāma found Madhusūdana, the earth’s undying essence, relaxing at home. 53 He sneaked up on Janārdana wearing his forest apparel, his chest resplendent with a fresh forest garland. 54 Govinda soon spotted Rāma approaching, carrying his plough, and he immediately got up and gave him the best seat. 55 Then, when Rāma was sitting down, Janārdana asked after the well-being of the cattle station, and of all their relatives, and of the cows. 56 Rāma replied to his brother’s kind words, telling him that those whom Krishna wished to be well were always well. 57 Then, in Vasudeva’s presence, Rāma and Keshava told wonderful and wholesome tales about what the two of them had got up to in former days.
84. Departure for Dvārakā
1 Vaishampāyana said:
The time came when, at a meeting of the Yadus, lotus-eyed Krishna made the following important and well-argued speech in the assembly hall:
2 This is the territory of the Yādavas. Mathurā bestows prosperity on the region. We were born here, and raised at the cattle station. 3 Then, just when our troubles were at an end and our enemies defeated, animosity towards us arose among the kings, and there was conflict with Jarāsandha.
4 We have chariots, endless infantry, wonderful treasures, and many allies. 5 But the district of Mathurā is small, and vulnerable to our enemy’s attacks. Also, we and our enemies are multiplying our armies and our allies, 6 and I can see that it’s a squash for all who live here, the tens of millions of princes and the companies of infantry. 7 So living here seems to me to be no good, Yadu bulls.
I’ll build a city. You must let me do it. 8 What I’m saying is something that makes sense, and if you agree with it you must approve it, for the sake of our long-term good, in the assembly of Yadus.
9 With joy in their hearts, all the Yādavas said to him: What you intend is for the good of this community, and it must be done.
10 Then the Vrishnis discussed the grand plan. They said: We’ve been forbidden from killing the enemy, but his army is immense, 11 and the kings have succeeded in destroying many of the forces on our side, and we won’t be able to smash their power and their troops even in a hundred years . . .
And so they decided to flee.
12 During this period the great King Kālayavana arrived at Mathurā, together with an army that was just as strong as he was. 13 So the Vrishnis gave their agreement like this after hearing about Jarāsandha’s huge and irresistible army, and then also about Kālayavana.
14 Keshava spoke once more to the faithful Yādavas: We and those who follow behind us must leave this very day. It’s an auspicious day.
15 Following Keshava’s instructions, all the Yadus made their exit, holding the floods of troops at bay just as the ocean’s floods do. 16 With Vasudeva at their head, they kept their wives together using well-equipped musth elephants, chariots, and closely bunched horses, 17 and they all beat kettledrums. Taking their wealth, relatives, and friends with them, all the Yādavas abandoned Mathurā and departed.
18 With their chariots, and their prize musth elephants wearing golden crowns, and their darting and prancing horses driven on by being whipped from behind, 19 the excited Vrishni leaders travelled towards the west, bull of the Bhāratas, each of them adorning the front of his own troops.
20 Then, while all the foremost Yādavas—the brilliant warriors—were leading their superb armies and following the son of Vasudeva, 21–22 those Yadu bulls happened to enter a waterside region that belonged to the ocean. It was colourful with various mangroves, laced with coconut-palm forests, rich in beautiful elephant forests, decorated with screwpine groves, and thick with poon trees and talipot palms, and one part was packed with vine forests.
23 All the pleasure-loving Yādavas made merry there in the charming countryside, as if they were gods who’d gone to heaven. 24 And as Krishna looked around for a place to build a city, that slayer of enemy braves found a spacious region that featured marine marshlands, 25 but was also suitable for vehicles; that had red sandy soil and possessed all the requisites for a city, as if the goddess of fortune had made her home there; 26 that was buffeted by ocean breezes, and close to the ocean’s waters. The territory belonged to the ocean, but it possessed all the requisites for a city.
27 The whole area was lit up by a nearby mountain called Raivataka, whose summit was as high as Mount Mandara. 28 Ekalavya’s home was close by, and Drona lived here for a long time. The region was crammed with all kinds of jewels, and it became populous. 29 When it was fully built up, this same place was King Ugrasena’s pleasure-park, resembling a very large gaming-board and called of course Dvāravatī, the Ci
ty of the Gates.
30 Keshava made up his mind to put the city there, and the Yādavas thought it was a fine place to halt the troops. 31 The sun was turning red, but while the day lasted the Yādava bulls who were leading the armed forces drew up an encampment there to shelter the troops. 32 And Keshava and the Yādavas settled there for good.
In order to establish the city in that place, the master—the best of Yadus, 33 the best of Yādavas, the best of people, and Gada’s elder brother—first devised her name and layout in his mind, as per the standard procedure. 34 And after those happy people and their relatives had obtained the city of Dvāravatī in this way, your majesty, they lived there like the ranks of the gods living in heaven.
35 Once he found out about Kālayavana, even Krishna the killer of Keshin was so frightened of Jarāsandha that he left for the city of Dvāravatī.
85. The Killing of Kālayavana
1 Janamejaya said:
My lord, I want to hear the adventures of Vasudeva’s wise and eminent son, the best of Yadus, in full detail.
2 Why did Madhusūdana abandon Mathurā, the prize of the midlands and Lakshmī’s only home? 3 It’s quite obviously the pinnacle of the earth. It has so much wealth and grain, the people are so rich and noble, and most importantly its location is fantastic. But the Dāshārha abandoned it even without a fight, best of brahmins.
4 And Kālayavana: why did he get involved with Krishna? 5 And Janārdana the great trickster, strong in the arms and strong in the mind: what did he do after moving to the waterside fortress of Dvārakā? 6 How was the powerful Kālayavana born and how powerful was he, such that when Janārdana saw him he couldn’t defeat him and withdrew?
7 Vaishampāyana said:
A long time ago, the great ascetic Gārgya,* a guru of the Vrishnis and Andhakas, became a celibate, and had no children. 8 And it happened that while Gārgya was practising the constant retention of his seed, your majesty, his brother-in-law maligned him by saying that he was impotent. 9 Then, after he’d been maligned around the town, he decided he wanted a son, your infinitely victorious majesty, and he went off and performed fearsome austerities 10 to that end. For twelve years he ate iron filings, striving for the favour of the inconceivable great trident-wielding god Rudra. 11 And Rudra granted him what he wished for, saying he would have a son composed of every brilliance and capable of punishing the Vrishnis and Andhakas in battle.
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