87 - The Onslaught of Jarāsandha

Vyasa said: 

1-2. Kamsa of great strength had married the two daughters of Jarasandha named Asti and Prapti. O brahmins, Jarasandha the powerful king of Magadha came there in great fury surrounded by a great army. It was to kill Krishņa together with the Yādavas that he came there, for Krişhņa had killed the husband of his two daughters. 

3. The lord of Magadha attacked the vicinity of Mathura. He was accompanied by twentythree Akşauhiņīs¹ of the army.

1. An army consisting of 21,870 elephants, 21,870 chariots, 65,610 horses, 109,350 fect is called Akşauhiņi. 

4. Surrounded by only a limited number of soldiers, the powerful Balarama and Krishna came out of their city and fought with the strong soldiers. 

5. Thereafter, o excellent sages, Balarama and Krishna of great strength thought of taking up their ancient weapons. 

6-8. The discus, the śärnga bow, two quivers with in- exhaustible supply of arrows and the iron club named Kaumodaki all these came from the firmament to those heroes. 

The ploughshare came into the hand of Balarama from the sky. O brahmins, it resembled the Saṁvarta fire. So also the Musala (iron-club) called Sunanda came over to them. 

In the battle, the heroic lads Balarama and Krişhņa defeated the king of Magadha together with his army. 

9. O excellent brahmins, although Jarasandha of evil design was conquered, Krishna did not consider him defeated because he returned alive. 

10. O excellent brahmins, Jarasandha came again accom- panied by his huge army. He was conquered by Balarama and Krişhņa. He fled from the battlefield. 

11. Thus, the arrogant king of Magadha fought eighteen battles with the descendants of Yadu led by Krishna. 

12. Although Jarasandha had more armies he was defeated by the heroes of Yadu clan who had only a small army. He was defeated in all battles and he fled on all occasions. 

13. The fact that the army of Yadavas won all times indicates the greatness of discus-bearing Vişhnu (i.e. Krishna) 

14. It is a mere sport on the part of the lord of universe to discharge many forms of weapons on the enemies because the lord had human attributes and activities. 

15. In fact with his mere mental thought he can create and annihilate the universe. What detailed attempt need he make in destroying the enemy's sides? 

16. Still the lord follows the activities of human beings. Allying himself with the strong persons he fights with the weaker ones. 

17-18. He uses the four-strategic expedients such as peaceful overtures, gifts, threats or creating dissention in enemies ranks and the actual striking. In some places he resorts to fleeing. The sport of the lord of universe functions according to his will. He imitates the activities of embodied human beings.