॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
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Uddhava was rightly invited to give his advice as he was insightful and knew the minds of Sri Krishna as well as the rest of the Yadu chiefs. He also took into account the sagely advice of Narada Maharshi as well as the SOS sent by the prisoners of Jarasandha. He now deferentially addressed Sri Krishna:
श्रीउद्धव उवाच
यदुक्तमृषिना देव साचिव्यं यक्ष्यतस्त्वया ।कार्यं पैतृष्वस्रेयस्य रक्षा च शरणैषिणाम् ॥
यष्टव्यं राजसूयेन दिक्चक्रजयिना विभो । अतो जरासुतजय उभयार्थो मतो मम ॥
T: Uddhava said: “Oh Lord, as the sage advised, You should help your cousin King Yudhishthira fulfil his plan for performing the Rajasuya Yajna, and you should also protect the kings who are begging for your releasing them from Jarasandha’s prison. Only one who has conquered all opponents in every direction can perform the Rajasuya, Oh almighty Sri Krishna! Thus, in my opinion, conquering Jarasandha will serve both intentions. This will bring order among the kings and also further your glorious reputation."
स वै दुर्विषहो राजा नागायुतसमो बले । बलिनामपि चान्येषां भीमं समबलं विना ॥
द्वैरथे स तु जेतव्यो मा शताक्षौहिणीयुत: । ब्राह्मण्योऽभ्यर्थितो विप्रैर्न प्रत्याख्याति कर्हिचित् ॥
ब्रह्मवेषधरो गत्वा तं भिक्षेत वृकोदर: । हनिष्यति न सन्देहो द्वैरथे तव सन्निधौ ॥
T: "The nearly invincible King Jarasandha is as strong as ten thousand elephants. Indeed, other powerful warriors cannot defeat him. Only Bhima is equal to him in strength. Jarasandha will be defeated only in a one-to-one battle, not by fighting his one hundred Akshauhini army. Since Jarasandha has much reverence for Brahmins, he shall never refuse any request from a Brahmin. Therefore, Bhima should go disguised as a Brahmin and invite him to a wrestling match. Thus, he will set up a one-to-one combat with Jarasandha, and in your presence, Bhima will no doubt kill him."
"Jarasandha has invited his death by his misdeeds. The Law of Karma will take effect in proper time. What is now important is the Rajasuya."
Uddhava concludes by saying that even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva act only on Bhagavan's instruction and state how he is the creator, nourisher and destroyer all-in-one as Kaala and now incarnated as Sri Krishna. His deed in getting rid of Jarasandha and freeing twenty thousand kings and princes will be the subject of grateful narratives by their wives just like everyone recalls Sri Krishna's earlier deeds in former avataras like the liberation of Gajendra and the freeing of Devi Sita.
Sage Narada approved of this and took his leave. Sri Krishna was very pleased with the advice. He told the messenger from those imprisoned royals:
राजदूतमुवाचेदं भगवान् प्रीणयन् गिरा । मा भैष्ट दूत भद्रं वो घातयिष्यामि मागधम् ॥
T: In sweet words of assurance, Bhagavan Sri Krishna told the messenger, "Oh, Rajadoota! Inform your kings to be fearless. They shall be well taken care of. I shall arrange for the destruction of Jarasandha, King of Magadha."
Sri Krishna now ordered that a he shall, with a big retinue of his family, chiefs and the army, proceed to Indraprastha. Sage Shuka describes their grand journey across the western Indian desert and many lands before reaching Indraprastha. After crossing the rivers Drishadvati and Saraswati, the procession passed through Panchala and Matsya and finally came to Indraprastha.
Yudhishthira and the entire capital of Indraprastha were thrilled to welcome Sri Krishna. His divine reputation preceded him.
दोर्भ्यां परिष्वज्य रमामलालयं मुकुन्दगात्रं नृपतिर्हताशुभ: ।
लेभे परां निर्वृतिमश्रुलोचनो हृष्यत्तनुर्विस्मृतलोकविभ्रम: ॥
तं मातुलेयं परिरभ्य निर्वृतो भीम: स्मयन् प्रेमजलाकुलेन्द्रिय: ।
यमौ किरीटी च सुहृत्तमं मुदा प्रवृद्धबाष्पा: परिरेभिरेऽच्युतम् ॥
अर्जुनेन परिष्वक्तो यमाभ्यामभिवादित: ।
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य वृद्धेभ्यश्च यथार्हत: ।
मानिनो मानयामास कुरुसृञ्जयकैकयान् ॥
T: The divine person of Sri Krishna is the everlasting residence of Devi Lakshmi. As soon as King Yudhshthira embraced him, the king became free of all worldly contaminations of mind and body, and he shed tears of transcendental bliss. Then Bhima, his eyes brimming with tears, laughed with joy as he embraced his cousin Sri Krishna. Arjuna and the twins — Nakula and Sahadeva — also joyfully embraced their dearest friend, the infallible Lord, and they cried in joy profusely.
Sri Krishna bowed down to the Brahmins and elders present, thus properly honouring the respectable members of the Kuru, Srinjaya and Kaikaya clans. We can imagine the great relief and joy felt by Devi Kunti as she embraced Sri Krishna and blessed him. Devi Draupadi bowed low in affection and surrender to Bhagavan.
There are many shlokas explaining how every citizen of Indraprastha- women, men and children- experienced a thrill on beholding Sri Krishna and his glorious family. His eight principal queens were received with extreme cordiality and accommodated in their quarters by Draupadi personally.
King Yudhishthira arranged for Sri Krishna’s rest and saw to it that all who came along with him — his queens, soldiers, ministers and administrators — were comfortably accommodated and attended to. He arranged that they would experience a new feature of reception every day while staying as guests of the Pandavas. Shuka concludes by saying that Sri Krishna and his people stayed for many months in Indraprastha.
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