Sabhāparva - Chapter-2

सभापर्व - Sabhāparva

अध्यायः – 2 ::Chapter-2

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
कृष्ण उवाच॥ सर्वैर्गुणैर्महाराज राजसूयं त्वमर्हसि । जानतस्त्वेव ते सर्वं किञ्चिद्वक्ष्यामि भारत ॥ 1॥ कृतोऽयं कुलसङ्कल्पः क्षत्रियैर्वसुधाधिप । निदेशवाग्भिस्तत्ते ह विदितं भरतर्षभ ॥ 2॥ ऐलस्येक्ष्वाकुवंशस्य प्रकृतिं परिचक्षते । राजानः श्रेणिबद्धाश्च ततोऽन्ये क्षत्रिया भुवि ॥ 3॥ ऐलवंश्यास्तु ये राजंस्तथैवेक्ष्वाकवो नृपाः । तानि चैकशतं विद्धि कुलानि भरतर्षभ ॥ 4॥ ययातेस्त्वेव भोजानां विस्तरोऽतिगुणो महान् । भजते च महाराज विस्तरः स चतुर्दिशम् ॥ 5॥ तेषां तथैव तां लक्ष्मीं सर्वक्षत्रमुपासते । सोऽवनीं मध्यमां भुक्त्वा मिथोभेदेष्वमन्यत ॥ 6॥ चतुर्युस्त्वपरो राजा यस्मिन्नेकशतोऽभवत् । स साम्राज्यं जरासन्धः प्राप्तो भवति योनितः ॥ 7॥ तं स राजा महाप्राज्ञ संश्रित्य किल सर्वशः । राजन्सेनापतिर्जातः शिशुपालः प्रतापवान् ॥ 8॥ तमेव च महाराज शिष्यवत्समुपस्थितः । वक्रः करूषाधिपतिर्मायायोधी महाबलः ॥ 9॥ अपरौ च महावीर्यौ महात्मानौ समाश्रितौ । जरासन्धं महावीर्यं तौ हंसडिभकावुभौ ॥ 10॥ दन्तवक्रः करूषश्च कलभो मेघवाहनः । मूर्ध्ना दिव्यं मणिं बिभ्रद्यं तं भूतमणिं विदुः ॥ 11॥ मुरं च नरकं चैव शास्ति यो यवनाधिपौ । अपर्यन्तबलो राजा प्रतीच्यां वरुणो यथा ॥ 12॥ भगदत्तो महाराज वृद्धस्तव पितुः सखा । स वाचा प्रणतस्तस्य कर्मणा चैव भारत ॥ 13॥ स्नेहबद्धस्तु पितृवन्मनसा भक्तिमांस्त्वयि । प्रतीच्यां दक्षिणं चान्तं पृथिव्याः पाति यो नृपः ॥ 14॥ मातुलो भवतः शूरः पुरुजित्कुन्तिवर्धनः । स ते संनतिमानेकः स्नेहतः शत्रुतापनः ॥ 15॥ जरासन्धं गतस्त्वेवं पुरा यो न मया हतः । पुरुषोत्तमविज्ञातो योऽसौ चेदिषु दुर्मतिः ॥ 16॥ उदीच्यभोजाश्च तथा कुलान्यष्टादशाभिभो । जरासन्धभयादेव प्रतीचीं दिशमाश्रिताः ॥ 17॥ शूरसेना भद्रकारा बोधाः शाल्वाः पटच्चराः । सुस्थराश्च सुकुट्टाश्च कुणिन्दाः कुन्तिभिः सह ॥ 18॥ शाल्वेयानां च राजानः सोदर्यानुचरैः सह । दक्षिणा ये च पाञ्चालाः पूर्वाः कुन्तिषु कोशलाः ॥ 19॥ तथोत्तरां दिशं चापि परित्यज्य भयार्दिताः । मत्स्याः संन्यस्तपादाश्च दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रिताः ॥ 20॥ तथैव सर्वपाञ्चाला जरासन्धभयार्दिताः । स्वराष्ट्रं सम्परित्यज्य विद्रुताः सर्वतोदिशम् ॥ 21॥ कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य कंसो निर्मथ्य बान्धवान् । बार्हद्रथसुते देव्यावुपागच्छद्वृथामतिः ॥ 22॥ अस्तिः प्राप्तिश्च नाम्ना ते सहदेवानुजेऽबले । बलेन तेन स ज्ञातीनभिभूय वृथामतिः ॥ 23॥ श्रैष्ठ्यं प्राप्तः स तस्यासीदतीवापनयो महान् । भोजराजन्यवृद्धैस्तु पीड्यमानैर्दुरात्मना ॥ 24॥ ज्ञातित्राणमभीप्सद्भिरस्मत्सम्भावना कृता । दत्त्वाक्रूराय सुतनुं तामाहुकसुतां तदा ॥ 25॥ सङ्कर्षणद्वितीयेन ज्ञातिकार्यं मया कृतम् । हतौ कंससुनामानौ मया रामेण चाप्युत ॥ 26॥ भये तु समुपक्रान्ते जरासन्धे समुद्यते । मन्त्रोऽयं मन्त्रितो राजन्कुलैरष्टादशावरैः ॥ 27॥ अनारमन्तो निघ्नन्तो महास्त्रैः शतघातिभिः । न हन्याम वयं तस्य त्रिभिर्वर्षशतैर्बलम् ॥ 28॥ यदा त्वभ्येत्य पितरं सा वै राजीवलोचना । कंसभार्या जरासन्धं दुहिता मागधं नृपम् ॥ 29॥ चोदयत्येव राजेन्द्र पतिव्यसनदुःखिता । पतिघ्नं मे जहीत्येवं पुनः पुनररिंदम ॥ 30॥ ततो वयं महाराज तं मन्त्रं पूर्वमन्त्रितम् । संस्मरन्तो विमनसो व्यपयाता नराधिप ॥ 31॥ पृथक्त्वेन द्रुता राजन्सङ्क्षिप्य महतीं श्रियम् । प्रपतामो भयात्तस्य सधनज्ञातिबान्धवाः ॥ 32॥ इति सञ्चिन्त्य सर्वे स्म प्रतीचीं दिशमाश्रिताः । कुशस्थलीं पुरीं रम्यां रैवतेनोपशोभिताम् ॥ 33॥ पुनर्निवेशनं तस्यां कृतवन्तो वयं नृप । तथैव दुर्गसंस्कारं देवैरपि दुरासदम् ॥ 34॥ स्त्रियोऽपि यस्यां युध्येयुः किं पुनर्वृष्णिपुङ्गवाः । तस्यां वयममित्रघ्न निवसामोऽकुतोभयाः ॥ 35॥ आलोक्य गिरिमुख्यं तं माधवीतीर्थमेव च । माधवाः कुरुशार्दूल परां मुदमवाप्नुवन् ॥ 36॥ स त्वं सम्राड्गुणैर्युक्तः सदा भरतसत्तम । क्षत्रे सम्राजमात्मानं कर्तुमर्हसि भारत ॥ 37॥ न तु शक्यं जरासन्धे जीवमाने महाबले । राजसूयस्त्वया प्राप्तुमेषा राजन्मतिर्मम ॥ 38॥ तेन रुद्धा हि राजानः सर्वे जित्वा गिरिव्रजे । कन्दरायां गिरीन्द्रस्य सिंहेनेव महाद्विपाः ॥ 39॥ सोऽपि राजा जरासन्धो यियक्षुर्वसुधाधिपैः । आराध्य हि महादेवं निर्जितास्तेन पार्थिवाः ॥ 40॥ स हि निर्जित्य निर्जित्य पार्थिवान्पृतनागतान् । पुरमानीय बद्ध्वा च चकार पुरुषव्रजम् ॥ 41॥ वयं चैव महाराज जरासन्धभयात्तदा । मथुरां सम्परित्यज्य गता द्वारवतीं पुरीम् ॥ 42॥ यदि त्वेनं महाराज यज्ञं प्राप्तुमिहेच्छसि । यतस्व तेषां मोक्षाय जरासन्धवधाय च ॥ 43॥ समारम्भो हि शक्योऽयं नान्यथा कुरुनन्दन । राजसूयस्य कार्त्स्न्येन कर्तुं मतिमतां वर ॥ 44॥ इत्येषा मे मती राजन्यथा वा मन्यसेऽनघ । एवं गते ममाचक्ष्व स्वयं निश्चित्य हेतुभिः ॥ 45॥	45 (110)
Krishna said, 'O great king, you possess all the qualities necessary for performing the Rajasuya sacrifice. You know everything, O Bharata, but I will still share something with you. Those now known as Kshatriyas are lesser in every way compared to the Kshatriyas that Rama, the son of Jamadagnya, defeated. O lord of the earth, O pride of the Bharata lineage, you understand how these Kshatriyas, following age-old traditions, rule among themselves and their ability to carry out the Rajasuya sacrifice. The various royal families and common Kshatriyas claim descent from Aila and Ikshwaku. The descendants of Aila, like the kings from Ikshwaku's line, have branched into countless dynasties. The descendants of Yayati and the Bhojas are numerous and accomplished, scattered all over the world. All Kshatriyas honor the well-being of these rulers. However, O monarch, King Jarasandha is currently overshadowing this prosperity and has placed himself above all other kings. He rules the central region of the earth (Mathura) and aims to create division among us. O monarch, the king who is the supreme leader of all, holding the universe's power in his hands, truly deserves the title of emperor.' O mighty king, Sisupala, filled with great energy, has placed himself under Jarasandha's protection and serves as the commander of his forces. The powerful Vaka, king of the Karushas, who can fight using his magical powers, waits on Jarasandha like a devoted disciple. There are also two others, Hansa and Dimvaka, both strong and noble-hearted, who seek the shelter of the mighty Jarasandha. Additional supporters include Dantavakra, Karusha, Karava, and Meghavahana, who also wait upon Jarasandha. Bhagadatta, the Yavana king, who has conquered Muru and Naraka, wearing the most remarkable gem on his head, rules the west like another Varuna. He pays respects to Jarasandha, not only with his words but also through actions. However, he holds a deep affection for you, viewing you as a father views his child. O king, your maternal uncle Purujit, a valiant defender of the Kunti lineage and a formidable foe to enemies, is the only king who cares for you out of love. The wicked Chedi, who falsely presents himself as divine and has foolishly adopted signs associated with me, the king of Vanga Pundra and the Kiratas, known as Paundraka and Vasudeva, has also joined Jarasandha's side. Oh, exalted one, the eighteen Bhoja tribes, terrified of Jarasandha, have all fled westward. The Surasenas, Bhadrakas, Vodhas, Salwas, Patachchavas, Susthalas, Mukuttas, and Kulindas, along with the Kuntis, have followed suit. The king of the Salwayana tribe, along with his brothers and followers, and the southern Panchalas and eastern Kosalas have all sought refuge in Kunti's land. In addition, the Matsyas and Sannyastapadas, gripped by fear, abandoned their northern lands for the south. Alarmed by Jarasandha's might, all the Panchalas have scattered in every direction from their own kingdom. Previously, the foolish Kansa, after tormenting the Yadavas, married Jarasandha’s two daughters, Asti and Prapti, sisters of Sahadeva. This alliance bolstered his power over his relatives, but it brought him great dishonor. Kansa also began to oppress the old kings of the Bhoja tribe. To escape his tyranny, they turned to us for help. I aided my kin by giving Akrura the beautiful daughter of Ahuka, and with Sankarshana alongside me, I avenged both Kansa and Sunaman, with Rama's support. After the source of our fear was gone, due to Kansa's death, Jarasandha, his father-in-law, took up arms against us. We, the eighteen younger branches of the Yadavas, realized that even with our best weapons, we would be unable to defeat him over the course of three hundred years. Meanwhile, the widow of Hansa, the daughter of Jarasandha, who had beautiful lotus-like eyes, mourned for her husband and went to her father, pleading, 'O king of Magadha, avenge my husband's death.' Remembering our earlier conclusions, we grew disheartened and fled from Mathura. We divided our wealth into smaller, transportable portions and escaped from Jarasandha's threat, along with our cousins and relatives. Seeking safety, we headed west to a lovely city named Kusasthali, nestled among the Raivata mountains. There, we made our home, reinforced its fortifications to be so strong that even the gods would struggle to breach them, allowing even the women to fight back alongside the Yadava warriors without fear. O slayer of foes, this is where we now live. And, considering the challenges of the surrounding mountains and feeling they had overcome Jarasandha’s threat, the descendants of Madhu have found great joy. O noble descendant of the Bharata line, you alone deserve to be an emperor. It is your duty, O Bharata, to rule over all the Kshatriyas. However, I must say, O king, that you cannot perform the Rajasuya sacrifice while the mighty Jarasandha is alive. Many kings have been trapped in his stronghold, much like a lion that has left the slain bodies of great elephants in a mountain cave. O slayer of all foes, King Jarasandha, desires to sacrifice a hundred kings; he worshipped the esteemed god of gods, the lord of Uma, through his fierce penances. This is how the kings of the earth have been defeated by him. And, O greatest of kings, he has managed to fulfil his sacrifice vows this way. By conquering the kings and capturing their armies, he has greatly increased the population of his city. Out of fear of Jarasandha, we once had to leave Mathura and escape to Dwaravati. If you wish to perform this sacrifice, O great king, you must aim to free the kings imprisoned by Jarasandha and seek his death. O son of the Kuru race, without doing this, your goals cannot be achieved. O you wise ruler, if the Rajasuya is to be realized, this is the path you must take. This, O king, is my opinion on the matter. Do, O pure one, as you see fit. Given these circumstances, O king, consider everything carefully and tell us what you believe is right."
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥ वयं यैव महाभाग जरासन्धभयात्तदा। शङ्किताः स्म महाभाग द्वौरात्म्यात्तस्य चानघ॥ 1 अहं हि तव दुर्धर्ष भुजवीर्याश्रयः प्रभो। नात्मानं बलिनं मन्ये त्वयि तस्माद्विशङ्किते॥ 2 त्वत्सकाशाच्च रामाच्च भीमसेनाच्च माधव। अर्जुनाद्वा महाबाहो हन्तुं शक्यो नवेति वै। एवं जानन्हि वार्ष्णेय विमृशामि पुनः पुनः॥ 3 त्वं मे प्रमाणभूतोऽसि सर्वकार्येषु केशव। तच्छ्रुत्वा चाब्रवीद्भीमो वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः॥4 भीम उवाच॥ अनारम्भपरो राजा वल्मीक इव सीदति । दुर्बलश्चानुपायेन बलिनं योऽधितिष्ठति ॥ 5॥ अतन्द्रितस्तु प्रायेण दुर्बलो बलिनं रिपुम् । जयेत्सम्यङ्नयो राजन्नीत्यार्थानात्मनो हितान् ॥ 6॥ कृष्णे नयो मयि बलं जयः पार्थे धनञ्जये । मागधं साधयिष्यामो वयं त्रय इवाग्नयः ॥ 7॥ कृष्ण उवाच॥ आदत्तेऽर्थपरो बालो नानुबन्धमवेक्षते । तस्मादरिं न मृष्यन्ति बालमर्थपरायणम् ॥ 8॥ हित्वा करान्यौवनाश्वः पालनाच्च भगीरथः । कार्तवीर्यस्तपोयोगाद्बलात्तु भरतो विभुः ॥ 9॥ ऋद्ध्या मरुत्तस्तान्पञ्च सम्राज इति शुश्रुमः ॥ ॥ साम्राज्यमिच्छतस्ते तु सर्वाकारं युधिष्ठिर।10 निग्राह्यलक्षणं प्राप्तो धर्मार्थनयलक्षणैः ।11 बार्हद्रथो जरासन्धस्तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ ॥ ॥ न चैनमनुरुध्यन्ते कुलान्येकशतं नृपाः । तस्मादेतद्बलादेव साम्राज्यं कुरुतेऽद्य सः ॥ 12॥ रत्नभाजो हि राजानो जरासन्धमुपासते । न च तुष्यति तेनापि बाल्यादनयमास्थितः ॥ 13॥ मूर्धाभिषिक्तं नृपतिं प्रधानपुरुषं बलात् । आदत्ते न च नो दृष्टोऽभागः पुरुषतः क्वचित् ॥ 14॥ एवं सर्वान्वशे चक्रे जरासन्धः शतावरान् । तं दुर्बलतरो राजा कथं पार्थ उपैष्यति ॥ 15॥ प्रोक्षितानां प्रमृष्टानां राज्ञां पशुपतेर्गृहे । पशूनामिव का प्रीतिर्जीविते भरतर्षभ ॥ 16॥ क्षत्रियः शस्त्रमरणो यदा भवति सत्कृतः । ननु स्म मागधं सर्वे प्रतिबाधेम यद्वयम् ॥ 17॥ षडशीतिः समानीताः शेषा राजंश्चतुर्दश । जरासन्धेन राजानस्ततः क्रूरं प्रपत्स्यते ॥ 18॥ प्राप्नुयात्स यशो दीप्तं तत्र यो विघ्नमाचरेत् । जयेद्यश्च जरासन्धं स सम्राण्नियतं भवेत् ॥ 19॥	19 (129)
Yudhishthira said, "You are wise and have spoken words that only a few can. No one else on this earth can resolve all doubts like you. But, noble one, we too were instilled with fear from Jarasandha and the evil of that king. Oh, invincible warrior, your strength is my safe haven. If you, who are so powerful, are afraid of Jarasandha, how can I consider myself strong in comparison? Madhava, of the Vrishni lineage, I often feel downcast wondering if you, Balarama, Bhimasena, or Arjuna can defeat Jarasandha. But what more can I say, Keshava? You are my ultimate guide in all matters." Hearing this, Bhima, who was articulate, replied, "A king, who acts carelessly or foolishly challenges a stronger foe without preparation is as doomed as a weak ant-hill. Yet, it is often seen that even a weak king can overcome a strong enemy and achieve his desires through vigilance and strategy. In Krishna lies wisdom, in me lies strength, and in Arjuna lies victory. Together, like the three sacred fires that fulfil a ritual, we will bring about the death of the king of Magadha."" " Krishna then said, 'A person who lacks understanding chases their desires without considering the future. It is clear that no one forgives a foolish enemy who only thinks of themselves. We have heard that in the golden age, Yauvanaswin subdued everyone by removing all taxes, Bhagiratha gained loyalty through kindness, Kartavirya used his ascetic powers, Lord Bharata showed strength and bravery, and Maruta thrived in wealth—these five became emperors. But, O Yudhishthira, you who aspire for the throne must possess all these qualities: success, protection for your people, virtue, prosperity, and wise governance. Know, O noble one of the Kurus, that Jarasandha, son of Vrihadratha, is also worthy of the throne. He is so powerful that a hundred royal dynasties cannot stand against him and is thus seen as an emperor. Kings adorned with jewels pay their respects to Jarasandha with gifts, but despite this, he remains wicked and is rarely satisfied, violently attacking even crowned kings.' There is no king, who does not pay him tribute. He has brought nearly a hundred kings under his control. How can any weak ruler, my son, dare to challenge him? These kings, trapped in Shiva's temple and sacrificed like mere animals, surely feel deep despair, don't they? A warrior who dies in battle is always honoured. So why should we not unite and confront Jarasandha in fight? He has already subdued eighty-six kings; only fourteen remain to reach a hundred. Once he claims those last kings, he will unleash his cruelty. Anyone who stands in his way will earn great glory. The one who defeats Jarasandha will become the ruler of all warriors.