॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
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We have repeatedly stated that the purpose of Srimad Bhagavatam is to develop Bhakti.
Bhakti, or total surrender in devotion can come only from the engagement of body, mind and soul of the devotee to the worship of the Lord. The role of the mind is to understand Bhagavan's glory and excellence. Reading scriptures and cultivating Satsang surely helps in this. In parallel, one needs to minimise attachments to this world of body and mind.
We have in this chapter a beautiful summary of what we can know about the Lord from Yudhishthira's own words. Bhagavan's response is even more illuminating about Him and His devotees.
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One day, in his royal court, Yudhishthira addressed Sri Krishna, surrounded by his brothers, Gurus, Brahmins, and eminent citizens from all walks of life.
श्रीयुधिष्ठिर उवाच
क्रतुराजेन गोविन्द राजसूयेन पावनी: । यक्ष्ये विभूतीर्भवतस्तत् सम्पादय न: प्रभो ॥
त्वत्पादुके अविरतं परि ये चरन्ति ध्यायन्त्यभद्रनशने शुचयो गृणन्ति ।
विन्दन्ति ते कमलनाभ भवापवर्गमाशासते यदि त आशिष ईश नान्ये ॥
तद् देवदेव भवतश्चरणारविन्दसेवानुभावमिह पश्यतु लोक एष: ।
ये त्वां भजन्ति न भजन्त्युत वोभयेषांनिष्ठां प्रदर्शय विभो कुरुसृञ्जयानाम् ॥
न ब्रह्मण: स्वपरभेदमतिस्तव स्यात्स र्वात्मन: समदृश: स्वसुखानुभूते: ।
संसेवतां सुरतरोरिव ते प्रसाद: सेवानुरूपमुदयो न विपर्ययोऽत्र ॥
Yudhishthira said: "Oh Govinda, I desire to worship your auspicious, magnificent person as Sri Krishna during the Rajasuya, the foremost of royal Yajnas. Please bless my intention for its fruition. Pure souls constantly strive to worship not just your feet but even your footwear which destroy everything inauspicious and confer liberation. Oh lotus-navelled Maha Vishnu, even if some people desire something in this world, they obtain it, by your grace. On the other hand, those who do not take shelter in you are never fulfilled, Lord! Therefore, Sri Krishna, deign to permit us to worship you sincerely. Let the people of this world see the power of devotional service rendered to your lotus feet - those Kurus and Srinjayas who worship you, in contrast to those who do not."
" Within your own mind, dear Lord, I know there can be no such differentiation as “This one is mine, and that is not,” because you are the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Soul of all beings, always equipoised and enjoying transcendental happiness within yourself. Just like the heavenly desire tree Kalpavriksha, you bless all who come and properly worship you, granting their desired fruits in proportion to their Bhakti. There is nothing wrong in this as it merely emphasises the role of our effort expressed in Bhakti."
This is a powerful idea. The Kalpavriksha is a metaphor. Devotion or Bhakti is akin to going to the wish-fulfilling tree in supplication. Without that effort, it is unreasonable to demand grace!
श्रीभगवानुवाच
सम्यग् व्यवसितं राजन् भवता शत्रुकर्शन । कल्याणी येन ते कीर्तिर्लोकाननु भविष्यति ॥
ऋषीणां पितृदेवानां सुहृदामपि न: प्रभो । सर्वेषामपि भूतानामीप्सित: क्रतुराडयम् ॥
विजित्य नृपतीन्सर्वान् कृत्वा च जगतीं वशे । सम्भृत्य सर्वसम्भारानाहरस्व महाक्रतुम् ॥
एते ते भ्रातरो राजल्ँ लोकपालांशसम्भवा: । जितोऽस्म्यात्मवता तेऽहं दुर्जयो योऽकृतात्मभि: ॥
न कश्चिन्मत्परं लोके तेजसा यशसा श्रिया । विभूतिभिर्वाभिभवेद् देवोऽपि किमु पार्थिव: ॥
T: Bhagavan replied with great benevolence: "Oh, King Yudhishthira, your decision is absolutely right. Your nobility will be famous across the worlds, oh, conqueror of foes! For the welfare of all living beings, from great sages to pitris and gods, the Rajasuya Yajna is the prescription."
"First, before the Rajasuya, you should conquer and bring the earth with its various kings under your control and collect all the required paraphernalia through tributes. Then perform the Yajna. Your younger brothers are born of the boons of the gods. Their abilities are unquestionable. You are of course the epitome of self-control, and you have even conquered me by your feelings, something impossible for anyone who has given in to his senses. It is certain that even a god cannot defeat my devotee, what to say then of an earthling king!?"
These words of Bhagavan made Yudhishthira bloom like a lotus and be charged up for the Rajasuya mission. He sent able armies in four directions under Sahadeva (South, Srinjayas), Nakula (West, Matsyas), Arjuna (North, Kekayas) and Bhima (East, Madrakas). They all conquered the territories and brought vast tributes from kings all over Indeed, Sage Shuka says, अजातशत्रवे भूरि द्रविणं नृप यक्ष्यते The tributes were from kings happy to comply with Yudhishtira's regime, as he had the title Ajatashatru = one whose enemy was not born yet!
However, Jarasandha remained undefeated. No Rajasuya Yajna was possible until he was also taken care of!
श्रुत्वाजितं जरासन्धं नृपतेर्ध्यायतो हरि: । आहोपायं तमेवाद्य उद्धवो यमुवाच ह ॥
भीमसेनोऽर्जुन: कृष्णो ब्रह्मलिङ्गधरास्त्रय: । जग्मुर्गिरिव्रजं तात बृहद्रथसुतो यत: ॥
T: When Sri Krishna heard that Jarasandha had remained unconquered, he recollected the stratagem suggested by Uddhava - that Bhima alone was capable of tackling him. Thus Bhima, Arjuna and Sri Krishna disguised themselves as Brahmins and went to Girivraja, where the son of Brihadratha, viz. Jarasandha, was to be dealt with.
Sri Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima, dressed up as Brahmins, awaited the hour when Jarasandha would meet his guests and Brahmins and shower gifts and boons. They said: "Oh King, know us to be needy guests who have come to you from afar. We wish all good unto you. Please grant us whatever we desire. Indeed, what is too burdensome for a generous giver that he cannot bear? What is such a promise that only the wicked will not fulfil? What will the generous not give in charity? And who will, if he be one with an equal vision toward all, see anyone come as an outsider?"
"A king who misses an opportunity for immortal fame by being miserly is indeed to be pitied. You surely know these names, known as the greatest givers - Harischandra, Rantideva, Unchavritti Mudgala, Shibi, and of course Bali. Then that famous story of a hunter and how a pigeon sacrificed his entire family to feed the hunter! Other than such immortal acts of generosity, whatever one may accomplish in this world is indeed trivial and transitory."
From the sound of their voices, their physical stature, and the marks of bowstrings on their forearms, Jarasandha figured out that his guests were royals, simply disguised as Brahmins. He even vaguely recollected seeing them before. He resolved within himself that whatever the compunctions for these visitors of royal blood to impersonate Brahmins, he was willing and ready to give them whatever they may ask, even if it was going to be his body!
Jarasandha recalled how Maha Vishnu had gone disguised as the dwarf Brahmin Vamana and begged Bali for three measures of land. Bali's Guru warned him and forbade him, and yet Bali went ahead. He lost his kingdom of course, but earned eternal fame and the Lord's own commitment to take care of him forever.
Mused Jarasandha: "What is the use of an incompetent king who goes on living but fails to gain everlasting glory by working with his perishable body for the benefit of Brahmins?" Thus making up his mind, the generous Jarāsandha addressed Sri Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima: “O learned Brahmins, choose whatever you wish. I will give it to you, even if it is my own head.”
श्रीभगवानुवाच
युद्धं नो देहि राजेन्द्र द्वन्द्वशो यदि मन्यसे ।
युद्धार्थिनो वयं प्राप्ता राजन्या नान्यकाङ्क्षिण: ॥
T: At once, Bhagavan Sri Krishna said: "Bravo! Oh exalted king, give us battle in the form of a duel, if you think it fitting. Indeed, know that we are princes. Our only intention here is to have a duel with you. We have no other request to make of you. This one is Bhima, the son of Pritha Kunti Devi. The second one here is Arjuna, his younger brother. I am their maternal cousin, Krishna, whom you know as your enemy!"
Hiding his surprise, Jarasandha took up the challenge in great spirit. He laughed out loud most derisively. “All right, you fools, I’ll give you a fight! But I will not fight with You, Krishna, for you are a coward. Your strength deserted you in the midst of our battle, and you fled along with your own capital of Mathura to take shelter in the sea!"
“As for this one, Arjuna, he is not as old as I am nor is he very strong. Since he is no match for me, he should not be my rival. Bhima, however, is as strong as I am.” Having said this, Jarāsandha offered Bhima a huge Gada, took up another himself and they all went outside the city.
The two heroes thus began battling each other on the level fighting ground outside the city. Maddened with the fury of combat, they struck each other with their lightning-bolt-like clubs. As they skillfully circled left and right, like actors dancing on a stage, the fight presented a magnificent spectacle.
As Jarasandha’s and Bhima’s Gadas loudly collided, they produced sounds like two tuskers in a fight, and were occasionally ear splitting like thunderbolts. They swung their Gadas at each other with such speed and force. The Gadas struck with extreme force each other's body parts, shoulders, hips, thighs, arms and torsos. Finally, the Gadas lay broken, shattered to pieces, like trees bearing the impact of fighting tuskers! Now the two heroes started fighting with bare fists, iron-hard. The noise the clash and smash made each time was nothing less in intensity.
As they thus fought, this contest between opponents of equal training, strength and stamina reached no conclusion. And so they kept on fighting without any letup for a whole twenty-seven days! At the end of each day, the two behaved like friends, but only to resume the brutal fight the next morning.
Sri Krishna knew the boon that the demoness Jara had granted Jarasandha. He also knew how he could be killed. Now Sri Krishna silently transferred his Shakti to Bhima. Bhima came to him, saying, "Dear Sri Krishna, I have fought Jarasandha now for so long, but I am unable to beat him or kill him. What shall I do?"
Sri Krishna whispered to Bhima the secret of Jarasandha, and how he should now deal with him. He also infused him with confidence, showing he was backing him with his own Shakti. He also made a sign to Bhima by tearing down the small branch of a tree down its middle.
Understanding this sign, the mighty Bhima, the best of fighters, seized his opponent by the feet and threw him to the ground. Bhima pressed his foot down on one leg of Jarasandha and quickly grabbed the other foot of the enemy. Using his two mighty hands, just as a great elephant might break the branch of a tree, Bhima tore Jarasandha apart from the anus upward, splitting him in half. All this happened very quickly.
The onlooking subjects of Jarasandha then saw him lying in two separate pieces, each with a single leg, thigh, testicle, hip, shoulder, arm, eye, eyebrow and ear, and with half a back and chest. Cast aside in dissimilar directions, the two parts could not come together, despite Jara's boon. He was therefore dead.
With the death of the lord of Magadha, a great cry of lamentation arose, while Arjuna and Sri Krishna congratulated Bhima by embracing him.
Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the sustainer and benefactor of all living beings, then coronated Jarasandha’s son, Sahadeva, as the new ruler of the Magadhas. The Lord then freed all the kings Jarasandha had imprisoned, fulfilling his promise sent with the messenger!
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