Jayatsena
Jayatsena was the king of Magadha and the son of Jarāsandha. Before the Kurukshetra war he joined the Pāṇḍava side and brought one akshauhiṇī (a full division of the army). The Mahābhārata names him in the Udyoga Parva among the Pāṇḍava allies, and in the Svargārohaṇa Parva among the great warriors who reached the higher worlds.
Background
Jayatsena took the throne of Magadha after his father Jarāsandha died. Bhīmasena killed Jarāsandha during the Pāṇḍava digvijaya (conquest of the quarters) and the Rājasūya yajña (royal fire ritual) arranged by Yudhishṭhira. Magadha was one of the most powerful kingdoms of the Mahābhārata age, and its ruler commanded a large army.
Role in the Udyoga Parva
When the Kurukshetra war could not be avoided, Jayatsena sided with the Pāṇḍavas and gave one akshauhiṇī to their cause. Chapter 19 of the Udyoga Parva names him among seven allied kings. Each of them gave one akshauhiṇī, so the Pāṇḍava army had seven akshauhiṇīs in all.
The seven Pāṇḍava allies named were:
- Sātyaki
- Dhṛshṭaketu of Cedi
- Dhṛshṭadyumna
- Jayatsena of Magadha
- the Pāṇḍya king
- Drupada
- Virāṭa
Against these seven stood eleven akshauhiṇīs on the Kaurava side.
Named among the warriors in the Svargārohaṇa Parva
Janamejaya asked the ṛshi how long the great warriors of the Bhārata line stayed in the world of the devas, and what final end they reached. In Chapter 5 of the Svargārohaṇa Parva, the ṛshi’s reply names Jayatsena among the mighty ones. The others named with him are Bhīshma, Droṇa, King Dhṛtarāshṭra, Dhṛshṭaketu, Satyajit, Jayadratha and Ghaṭotkaca. The ṛshi had told of their deeds and their shining forms.
Having fallen by weapons in a battle fought for dharma, Jayatsena reached the higher lokas (worlds) with the other fallen kings.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 19
- Mahābhārata, Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapter 5