Krsna, Bhima, and Arjuna, disguised as brahmanas, 
beg charity from the wicked but charitable king.

The sage Vaisampayana is telling the history of the Pandavas to their great-grandson, King Janamejaya. As the narration continues, Lord Krsna has been discussing with King Yudhisthira the need to defeat King Jarasandha, who is holding many kings hostage. Jarasandha's defeat will entitle Yudhisthira to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice and become world emperor. Now Krsna reveals His plan to kill Jarasandha. [Abridged from the original translation.]

King Jarasandha hears the Challenge of The Lord Krsna

King Jarasandha hears the Challenge of The Lord Krsna

LORD KRSNA SAID, "The precise moment for Jarasandha's destruction has now come. He cannot be conquered in battle, even by all the gods and demons, but We perceive that he can be conquered in a personal duel. Strategy lies with Me, strength with Bhima, and Arjuna will guard both of us. Like three fires, we shall take care of him, O king.

"When the three of us privately challenge that monarch, he will surely step forward to fight one of us. He has so belittled the world, and he is so emboldened by his vast power, that he will surely come forward to fight Bhimasena. With great arms and great power, Bhimasena can destroy him, just as death is able to destroy the agitated world. If your heart knows Me, and if you are convinced about Me, assign Bhimasena and Arjuna to this task at once. Entrust them to Me."

Thus addressed by the Lord, Yudhisthira replied, while gazing upon Bhima and Arjuna, who stood with jubilant faces.

"Acyuta! O infallible one! Never, never speak like that [as if I did not fully trust You], O punisher of the hostile. We exist under Your shelter, for You are the Lord and protector of the Pandavas. However You speak, it is most proper. Certainly You do not lead those upon whom the goddess of fortune has turned her back. Jarasandha is already slain, and the kings are freed, and I have achieved the Rajasuya, for I abide by Your command. O swift doer, who are beyond all men, act in such a way that this task, which is my duty and a duty for the sake of the entire world, will be rightly accomplished.

"Without you three I have no strength to live, just as a man suffering ill health and thereby bereft of his wealth, pleasure, and religion cannot bear to live. Arjuna will not be without Krsna, nor Krsna without Arjuna. In this world there is no one these two cannot conquer. That is my opinion. And this handsome Bhima is the best of the strong. What can this illustrious hero not do when he stands with you two!

"Massive strength, well guided, accomplishes the greatest task. The wise with their clear vision must guide power, which is blind and dumb. Those rich in intelligence lead water to the low ground, where there is least resistance, and to assure victory, they lead power to a weak and open point. Therefore, we shall strive for success in this task by taking shelter of You, Lord Krsna, who are celebrated throughout the world as the Supreme Person, for You know how to plan and execute policy in the most logical way. Thus, dear Krsna, to accomplish one's aim in all objectives, one must place strength, wisdom, and leadership at the forefront, joined by the means of action.

"To achieve our aim, certainly Arjuna, son of Prtha, must follow Krsna, the best of the Yadus, and Bhima must follow Arjuna. In them are strength, leadership, and victory, and there will be success in this endeavor."

Entering Jarasandha's Kingdom

Thus addressed, those brothers of vast might Krsna, Bhima, and Arjuna encouraged by the moving statements of their loving friends, departed forthwith toward the King of Magadha, concealing themselves in the garments of brilliant brahmana students just graduated from their studies. Burning with rage over the injuries and insults to their relatives in the royal line, those three seemed like the sun, the moon, and fire. Their appearance was at once handsome and terrible.

Yudhisthira Maharaja watched as Krsna and Arjuna inspired and fixed on a single task, invincible in battle departed, with awesome Bhima leading the way. Seeing them, Yudhisthira knew Jarasandha to be a dead man. Krsna and Arjuna had the power to control, to execute all duties, to accomplish all the tasks of religion, business, and pleasure, and to overthrow and destroy the wicked.

The three infallible heroes, heading east, crossed over the Ganges and the Sona and arrived at the kingdom of Magadha, whose sesame trees covered the land like a verdant breastplate. Reaching Mount Goratha, which was always filled with a wealth of cows, abundant water, and beautiful woods, they gazed upon the capital city of Magadha.

Lord Krsna said to Arjuna, "This is the beautiful capital of Magadha a great and charming land always free from troubles, filled with herds and abundant water, and rich with fine mansions. My friend, these five shining mountains with magnificent peaks are the wide Vaihara, Vrsabha, Varaha, Rsi-giri, and Caityaka. These mountains, with their refreshing forests, join together as if to protect the capital, which is thus known as Girivraja, 'the city enclosed by mountains.'

"Jarasandha is confident that he will inevitably achieve his goals, but we shall now approach him and cut down his pride."

When Lord Krsna had spoken thus, the brothers with their vast power Krsna of the Vrsnis and the two sons of Pandu advanced toward the city of the Magadhas. They approached the impregnable Girivraja, a prosperous city of lavish festivals that was filled with satisfied, healthy people living by the fourfold division of society.

Instead of approaching the main gate, the three, eager to kill Jarasandha, ran along attractive Caityaka Mountain, at the end of the mountain range protecting the city. Then, as if to smash the head of their enemy, they struck with their wide arms the fixed wide summit of the mountain, so very great and ancient. Simply with their arms the heroes threw down that immovable peak, which was well established and worshiped with garlands.

Then they caught sight of the city of the Magadhas and made their entrance. At that very moment the priests were carrying a fire around Jarasandha as he sat on an elephant, in this way fully worshiping the king.

O Bharata, dressed like devout religious students whose only weapons are their bare arms, and hankering to do battle with Jarasandha, the three warriors made their entrance. They observed the extraordinary opulence of the prosperous food and flower markets, richly stocked with all the finest products and all desirable luxuries.

Krsna, Bhima, and Arjuna, those best of men, went along the king's highway. Seeing the wealth of the shopping district, they forcibly took flower garlands from a florist with their mighty arms. Thus dressed with detachment yet adorned with garlands and polished earrings, they proceeded to the abode of the clever Jarasandha, gazing upon it as Himalayan lions gaze upon a cow pen.

Those three were known for the strength of their arms, and now those arms, adorned with sandalwood and aloe, were as handsome and splendid as magnificent pillars of stone. The people of Magadha were filled with wonder as they looked upon those three, who had deep, wide chests. The three heroes moved like lordly elephants and stood tall like hard sala trees.

Receiving the "Brahmanas"

Passing through three chambers crowded with people, those very powerful bulls among men proudly approached the king. Jarasandha rose to meet them and attended them with proper rites and reception, for they were worthy of a foot bath, the respectful offering of milk and honey, and all the honor due the saintly.

That commanding king then said to them, "Welcome!"

The king was well known for his vow: Whenever he heard of the arrival of religious students brahmanas that conquering king would rise to receive them, O Bharata, even if it were midnight. But when he saw the unique raiment of those three heroes, Jarasandha was amazed, O best of kings, even as he attended on them.

And those three leaders of men, each a slayer of his foes, said upon seeing King Jarasandha, "Our best wishes, O king. May you be well!"

Each of the three heroes was determined to carry out the mission, O tiger of a king, as they studied the monarch and looked at one another.

To Krsna and the two Pandavas, who were all disguised as brahmanas, Jarasandha then said, "Be seated."

Thereupon the three mighty personalities took their seats and blazed forth with charisma like the three fires that blaze at a great sacrifice. Jarasandha, a monarch fixed in honesty, then condemned his guests for having come in disguise, O Kauravya.

"People do not become genuine snataka students just by wearing garlands and sandal paste on their bodies. In this world of men, everything is known to me. You people wear flowery wreaths, but your arms bear the scars of the bowstring. You claim to be of the brahmana community, but you wield the power of warriors. Thus outwardly you dress with detachment, yet you wear garlands and sandal paste. Speak the truth! Who are you? Honesty is appealing among those of the royal order. Why in the world did you tear down the peak of Caityaka Mountain? Why didn't you just enter our city through the gate? Why do you have no fear of offending a king? These are the actions of inscrutable men. What is your plan now? Speak, men, for prowess in speech is the mark of a brahmana.

"Now that you have come to me, why not accept the honor we have properly arranged? Take it! What do you want from us in coming here?"

Thus addressed, the very wise and eloquent Krsna replied with words that were both profound and polished.

"Brahmanas, warriors, and merchants may all take the vow of a snataka, O king. Some of them follow special rules, and others do not. A warrior who always observes his special religious rule attains success. Success is sure for those who wear flowers, and hence we wear them.

"A warrior's speech is known to be innocent of arrogance, O son of Brhadratha, for his power lies in his arms, not his speech. The creator has invested His own power in the arms of the ksatriyawarriors. If you wish to see that, O king, then without doubt you will see it today."

"Cultured people do not enter an enemy's house through the front gate, but they always enter the house of a sincere friend through the front. Thus we have shunned your city's gate. We do not accept honor from an enemy, having come to his house on a mission. Know that to be our eternal vow!"

Challenge Accepted

Jarasandha said, "I don't remember that we ever had a feud with you people, and on reflection I fail to see any hostile act I may have committed against you. When there is no hostility between us, how can you think of me as your enemy, when I have committed no offense? Explain it, learned ones, for that is the custom of the saintly. It pains the mind, actually, to see such a violation of justice. Though a warrior be of royal blood, his mind will burn with pain if he starts a fight with an innocent person, thus violating the sacred law.

"One who knows the principles of justice and takes great vows, but who acts otherwise, comes to a disastrous end and ruins all the good in his life. In all the three worlds, I am the best of those who follow the warrior code of honor, for I am sinless. Yet even knowing this, you three prattle on, as if you were all mad."

Lord Krsna said, "There is one particular man, Maharaja, who bears a responsibility toward his dynasty, and by his order we three have set forth on our mission. You, king, have invented the wicked practice of abducting and corralling ruling warriors, men who were living with their people and protecting the innocent, and now you seek to kill them in a sacrificial rite. Having invented this cruel atrocity, how can you consider yourself sinless? O exalted monarch, how can a king so injure saintly rulers? Having arrested those kings, you wish to offer them to Lord Siva.

"O son of Brhadratha, your evil deed would be on our hands, for we have the power to enforce the religious principles and we practice those principles. Indeed, seizing human beings for sacrifice is never seen in this world. How can you seek to worship Lord Sankara, the benefactor of all, with human offerings? Who else but you, Jarasandha, could have such a perverted mind that he would offer his fellow kings as animals in sacrifice?

"We shall always come to save the oppressed, and since you would destroy our own kin, we have come here to stop you so that our brother kings may flourish. You think there is no other real man among the warriors, O king, but this is at once the great confusion and the utter ruin of your reason.

"What ruler, O king, understanding his noble lineage, would not strive for heaven at the end of his earthly battles, when that celestial abode is undying and beyond compare? O monarch of the Magadhas, know for a fact that warriors who worship the higher worlds are initiated into the rite of war, and thus they undertake their march to heaven. Victory takes one to heaven, O king; great and true fame takes one to heaven; heaven is for those who make sacrifice in battle. That is the unswerving sinless path.

"Even for Indra, it is ever established that such character brings victory, and it was thus that Indra of the hundred rites overcame the demons and now rules the universe. Those who stand on the path to heaven whom could they fight with who is equal to you, with your vast Magadha armies, so proud of their numbers and prowess?

"Do not belittle your foes, O king, as if courage were in no other man and fiery might rests exclusively in you. O lord of men, there is certainly a power equal to yours, and you will be considered unique only as long as that power is not aroused and clearly perceived. We are a match for your prowess, O king, and therefore I say to you, Magadha, give up your arrogance and conceit, for you are among your equals. Do not go with your sons, army, and ministers to the abode of Death. Dambhodbhava, Kartavirya, and a former Brhadratha all belittled better men in this world, and so all those kings perished with their armies.

"We who desire to free the kings from your grasp do not claim to be brahmanas. I am Krsna, son of Vasudeva. These two are the Pandavas, heroes of mankind. We call you out, O king! Be firm and fight, Magadha, or release all the kings. We urge you: don't go to the abode of Death!"

Jarasandha said, "I certainly didn't seize any undefeated kings. What defeated king will stand to oppose me? And who in this world has not been defeated by me? They say, Krsna, that this is the fair way for a warrior to maintain his life: showing his valor and gaining control, he may then do what he desires. Having prepared the kings for sacrifice to the deity, and remembering well, Krsna, the warrior vow, how shall I now release them out of fear?

"With army assembled against army, I shall fight or one against one, or with two or three of you, or with all of you at once."

Hridayananda Dasa Goswami, who holds a Ph.D. in Indology from Harvard University, is Professor of Vaisnava Theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

The Main Characters

The Pandavas Though the name Pandava means "son of Pandu," the five Pandavas were sired by demigods the three eldest Pandavas (Yudhisthira, Bhima, and Arjuna) in the womb of King Pandu's wife Kunti, and the youngest (the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva) in the womb of Pandu's wife Madri. The Pandavas are sometimes called "Bharata" or "best of the Bharatas," because they come in the dynasty of King Bharata.

The Kurus The sons of both Pandu and Dhrtarastra (the uncle of the Pandavas who because of blindness could not become the king) descended from King Kuru, but the name Kurus usually refers to Dhrtarastra's sons, the eldest of whom is Duryodhana.

Bhisma A respected elder of the Kuru dynasty, he is the uncle of Dhrtarastra, Pandu, and Vidura.