| SABHA PARV MAHABHARAT BOOK 2 CHAPTER 19 Mahabharat
Book 2 Chapter 19 : English
And, O Arjun, it was here that in olden times the mighty monarchs of Ang, and Vang and other countries, came to the abode of Gautam, and passed their days in joy and happiness. Behold, O Parth, those forests of delightful Pippals and beautiful Lodhras standing near the side of Gautam's abode. There dwelt in old days those Nagas, Arbud and Shakravapi, those persecutors of all enemies, as also the Nag Swastik and that other excellent Nag called Maninaga. Mani himself had ordered the country of the Magadhs to be never afflicted with drought, and Kaushik and Manimat also have favoured the country. Owning such a delightful and impregnable city, Jarasandh is ever bent on seeking the fruition of his purposes unlike other monarchs. We shall, however, by slaying him to-day humble his pride."
Vaisampayan said,--Thus saying those brothers of abundant energy, viz., he of the Vrishni race and the two Pandavas entered the city of Magadh. They then approached towards the impregnable city of Girivraj that was full of cheerful and well-fed inhabitants belonging to all the four orders, and where festivities were perennial. On arriving then at the gate of the city, the brothers (instead of passing through it) began to pierce (with their shafts) the heart of the high Chaityaka peak that was worshipped by the race of Brihadrath, as also by the citizens and which delighted the hearts of all the Magadhs. There Vrihadrath had slain a cannibal called Rishabha and having slain the monster made of his hide three drums which he placed in his own city.
And those drums were such that once beaten their sound lasted one full month. And the brothers broke down the Chaityaka peak that was delightful to all the Magadhas, at that point where those drums covered with celestial flowers used to yield their continuous sound. And desirous of slaying Jarasandh they seemed by that act of theirs to place their feet upon the head of their foe. And attacking with their mighty arms that immovable and huge and high and old and celebrated peak always worshipped with perfumes and floral wreaths, those heroes broke it down. And with joyful hearts they then entered the city. And it so happened that the learned Brahmanas residing within the city saw many evil omens which they reported to Jarasandh. And the priest making the king mount an elephant whirled lighted brands about him. And king Jarasandh also, possessed of great prowess, with a view to warding of those evils, entered upon the celebration of a sacrifice, with proper vows and
p. 47
fasts. Meanwhile, O Bharat, the brothers unarmed, or rather with their bare arms as their only weapons, desirous of fighting with Jarasandh, entered the capital in the guise of Brahmans. They beheld the extraordinary beauty of the shops full of various edibles and floral wreaths, and supplied with articles of every variety of various qualities that man can desire. Those best of men, Krishna, Bhima, and Dhananjaya, beholding in those shops their affluence, passed along the public road. And endued with great strength they snatched forcibly from the flower-vendors the garlands they had exposed for sale. And attired in robes of various colours and decked in garlands and ear-rings the heroes entered the abode of Jarasandh possessed of great intelligence, like Himalayan lions eyeing cattle-folds. And the arms of those warriors, O king, besmeared with sandal paste, looked like the trunks of sala trees. The people of Magadh, beholding those heroes looking like elephants, with necks broad like those of trees and wide chests, began to wonder much. Those bull among men, passing through three gates that were crowded with men, proudly and cheerfully approached the king. And Jarasandha rising up in haste received them with water to wash their feet with, and honey and the other ingredients of the Arghya--with gifts of kine, and with other forms of respect.
The great king addressing them said,--'Ye are welcome'! And, O Janmejay, both Parth and Bhim remained silent at this. And addressing the monarch Krishna said,--'O king of kings these two are now in the observance of a vow. Therefore they will not speak. Silent they will remain till midnight After that hour they will speak with thee!' The king then quartering his guests in the sacrificial apartments retired into his private chambers. And when midnight arrived, the monarch arrived at the place where his guests attired as Brahmanas were. For, O King, that ever victorious monarch observed this vow which was known throughout the Worlds that as soon as he should hear of the arrival of Snatak Brahmans at his place, should it be even at midnight, he would immediately, O Bharat, come out and grant them an audience. Beholding the strange attire of his guests that best of kings wondered much. For all that, however, he waited on them respectfully.
Those bulls among men, those slayers of all foes, on the other hand, O thou best of the Bharat race, beholding king Jarasandh, said,--'Let salvation be attained by thee, O king, without difficulty.' And, O tiger among kings, having said this unto the monarch, they stood looking at each other. And, O king of kings, Jarasandha then said unto those sons of Pandu and him of the Yadu race, all disguised as Brahmans--'Take your seats.' And those bulls among men sat themselves down, and like the three priests of a great sacrifice blazed forth in their beauty. And king Jarasandha, O thou of the Kuru race, firmly devoted to truth, censuring the disguised guests, said unto them,--'It is well known to me that in the whole world Brahmans in the observance of Snatak vow never deck their persons with garlands and fragrant paste unseasonably. [p. 48]: Who are ye, therefore, thus decked with flowers, and with hands bearing the marks of the bow-string? Attired in coloured robes and decked unseasonably with flowers and paste, ye give me to understand that ye are Brahmanas, although ye bear Kshatriya energy. Tell me truly who ye are. Truth decks even kings. Breaking down the peak of the Chaityaka hill, why have ye, in disguise, entered (the city) by an improper gate without fear of the royal wrath? The energy of a Brahmana dwelleth in his speech, (not in act). This your feat is not suited to the order to which ye profess to belong. Tell us therefore, the end ye have in view. Arrived here by such an improper way, why accept ye not the worship I offer? What is your motive for coming to me? Thus addressed by the king, the high-souled Krishna, well-skilled in speech, thus replied unto the monarch in a calm and grave voice.
"Krishna said,--'O king, know us for Snatak Brahmans. Brahmans and Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are all, O monarch, competent to observe the vow of Snatak. This vow, besides, hath (many) especial and general rules. A Kshatriya observing this vow with especial rules always achieve prosperity. Therefore, have we decked ourselves with flowers. Kshatriyas again, O king, exhibit their energy by their arms and not in speech. It is, therefore, O son of Vrihadrath, that the speeches uttered by a Kshatriya are never audacious. O monarch, the creator hath planted his own energy in the aim of the Kshatriya. If thou wishest to behold it, thou shalt certainly behold it today. These are the rules of the ordinance, viz., that an enemy's abode should be entered through a wrong gate and a friend's abode through the right one. And know, O monarch, that this also is our eternal vow that having entered the foe's abode for the accomplishment of our purpose, we accept not the worship offered to us!"
Source :
https://www.jatland.com/ |