Chapter 71 - Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s visit to Indraprastha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Having heard the words of the divine sage Nārada, and considering the views of the members of the assembly and that of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the greatly intelligent Uddhava spoke as follows:

Uddhava said:

2. O Lord! As advised by the sage Nārada, you should render help to your cousins (sons of your paternal aunt) in the performance of that sacrifice and also should extend protection to those (kings in the captivity of Jarāsandha) who desire to seek your shelter.

3. O Almighty Lord! It is only the conquerer of all the cardinal points who is eligible to perform the Ṛā jasūya sacrifice.

[Bhāgavata Candrikā’s Text adds:]

3(A). We should at first set out from this place to go to Indraprastha. It is there (at Indraprastha) that with Yudhiṣṭhira’s permission, you should slay Jarāsandha for the sake of Yudhiṣṭhira. Hence, in my opinion, victory over the son of Jarā (i.e. Jarāsandha) will serve both the purposes.

4. We shall be achieving our great object by this act (of vanquishing Jarāsandha). And great glory will accrue to you by setting at liberty those imprisoned kings, O Govinda!

5. (To Yādavas who are eager to kill Jarāsandha, Uddhava cautions:) In physical strength that king (Jarāsandha) equals ten thousand elephants and as such, is irresistible to others who (regard themselves and actually) are mighty, except Bhīma who is his equal in strength.

6. It is only in a single combat that he can be conquered and not otherwise (with a powerful army), as he commands an army of one hundred akṣauhiṇīs. He is friendly to Brāhmaṇas. And when requested by Brāhmaṇas, he would never refuse it.

7. Let Bhīmasena assume the guise of a Brāhmaṇa and approach him to beg of him single-handed combat with himself. There is not the slightest doubt that in your presence Bhīma will certainly kill him in that duel.

8. You are the formless Time-spirit who, as the Supreme Lord, are the real cause of the creation and destruction of the universe, while gods Brahmā and Rudra are mere instruments. So Bhīma will be the mere instrumental cause of killing Jarāsandha while (as a matter of fact) you are the real slayer.

9. (When Jarāsandha will be killed) the queens of those (released) kings will sing in their (respective) palaces your glorious act in slaying their own (common) enemy (who imprisoned their husbands) and of setting at liberty their husbands (who are dear to them as their own selves), just as Gopīs sing of their deliverance (from the demon Śaṅkhacūḍa;) sages who resort to you for shelter glorify you for the rescue of the king of elephants (from the alligator), and the release of Sītā, the daughter of Janaka (from Rāvaṇa’s captivity) and we who are protected by you, sing of your exploit in setting free your parents (Vasudeva and Devakī from the imprisonment of Kaṃsa).

10. O Kṛṣṇa! The killing of Jarāsandha will tend to serve many great objectives (purposes) with the fruition of the meritorious acts of the kings (resulting in their release and re-instatement on their thrones), and the fructification of the evil acts of Jarāsandha (resulting in his death and that of Śiśupāla as well). For performance of the Rājasūya sacrifice meets your approval.

Śrī Śuka said:

11. O King! This counsel tendered by Uddhava was so correct and good in every respect that the divine sage Nārada, Yādava elders and Śrī Kṛṣṇa as well, expressed their approval of it.

12. Thereupon the all-pervading glorious Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, sought the permission of his elders and preceptors and ordered his servants like Dāruka, Jaitra and others to prepare for the journey.

13. Having sent in advance, the ladies of his harem, sons, attendants and their kit, and after getting the formal permission of his elder brother Balarāma and Ugrasena, the king of Yādavas, Śrī Kṛṣṇa mounted his chariot brought to him by his charioteer and distinguished with the flag bearing the emblem of Garuḍa, O chastiser of enemies.

14. Thereupon, surrounded with his formidable army comprising of chariots, elephants, foot-soldiers and horsemen and led by their respective military leaders, Kṛṣṇa set out from Dvārakā filling all the quarters with the brilliant fanfare and tremendous sound of the beating of tabors, drums, kettledrums, conchs and horns or trumpets.

15. The devoted and virtuous queens of Kṛṣṇa, all clad in excellent garments, adorned with precious ornaments, pigments and garlands and well-guarded by attendants armed with swords and shields—followed their husbands along with their sons in golden palanquins and vehicles borne by men and drawn by horses.

16. Mounting on vehicles and litters drawn by men, and on camels, oxen, buffaloes, donkeys, mules, carts and elephants and packing and loading their portable shelters of thatched cottages and tents, woollen blankets, cloths and other articles of their kit, on both sides of the animals, the attendants (of Kṛṣṇa) and courtesans all well-adorned, travelled in his train.

17. Like unto the sea grown agitated with, roaring high waves and restless whales, the enormous army, dinning with loud noise and with its lofty flags, big banners, umbrellas, chowries, excellent weapons, ornaments, diadems (or helmets) and armours, was shining brilliantly under the bright rays of the sun.

18. Thereupon, the sage Nārada who was worshipped by Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Yādavas, felt all his hearts and senses deeply satisfied and happy at the sight of Mukunḍa. After listening to his decision and accepting the reception offered to him, he bowed to Kṛṣṇa and meditating upon him (and thus installing him in his heart) he left Dvārakā, soaring up in the sky,

19. (When Nārada left) the Lord promised the messenger in a kindly tone: “O messenger! You need not be afraid. May good betide you! (I shall see to it that) Jarāsandha, the king of Magadhas, be killed.”

20. Thus assured by the Lord, the emissary departed and reported in details to the kings all that happened. The kings longed to get their freedom restored and eagerly looked forward to Kṛṣṇa’s actual appearance.

21. Having travelled through Anarta^[1], Sauvīra,^[2] and Marus^[3] and also Vinaśana^[4], he crossed over mountains and rivers and passed by towns, villages, cowherd-settlements and quarries.

22. Later on, after crossing the river Dṛṣadvatī (Mod. Ghaggar) and the Sarasvatī, he passed through the Pāñcāla country and the Matsya^[5] region and arrived at Indraprastha.

23. Hearing the report of the arrival of Śrī Kṛṣṇa whose sight is very rare to ordinary human beings, king Yudhiṣṭhira who was friendly to all, was highly delighted and went out of the city (to receive him) along with his family priests and accompanied with his friends and well-wishers.

24. In the symphonic combination of vocal music (glorifying Kṛṣṇa in songs) and instrumental music and with the loud chanting of the Vedas, he eagerly approached Lord Kṛṣṇa just as senses do (i.e. are revived instantaneously) after the return of the chief Prāṇa (vital breath).

25. Having seen Śrī Kṛṣṇa, his dearest friend and relative after a long time, the heart of Pāṇḍu’s son (Yudhiṣṭhira) melted with deep affection and he embraced him again and again.

26. Embracing with both of his hands the Person of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the sacred abode of the goddess Lakṣmī, the king Yudhiṣṭhira was purged of all sins. With his eyes overflowing with tears and the hair of his body standing on ends, he felt highly blessed and forgot all the delusions about the world.

27. Beaming with a smile and with all his senses and mind overwhelmed with the force of (overpowering) affection, Bhīma embraced his maternal cousin (son of his maternal uncle) and enjoyed great felicity. Arjuna and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, with profuse tears of joy embraced Acyuta^[6], the best of their friend and well-wisher.

28. Embraced by Arjuna and paid due respects by Nakula and Sahadeva, Kṛṣṇa saluted Brāhmaṇas and other elderly persons according to their seniority and other worth.

29. 30. Paid respects by them, Kṛṣṇa reciprocally honoured Kauravas, Sṛñjayas, Kekayas, bards like Sūta and Māgadha and celestial singers, bards and court-jesters^[7] praised him while others played upon musical instruments, like tabors, conchs, lutes, drums and horns or trumpets, danced and sang.

31. Lord Kṛṣṇa, the crest-jewel among persons with hallowing renown, was thus accompanied by friends and well- wishers who were eulogizing him. With them he entered the well decorated city of Indraprastha.

32. The roads of the city were sprinkled with scented water and the ichor that exuded from the temples of elephants in rut; it was decorated with variegated flags, golden arches and pitchers full of water (at the entrance of houses); it appeared beautiful with its well-washed citizens wearing new silken garments, ornaments, wreaths of flowers and perfumes as well as with young-women who were equally well-dressed, adorned and anointed in pigments.

33. Kṛṣṇa saw the capital of the king of Kurus (Yudhi- ṣṭhira) teeming with houses that were illuminated with a row of big lights, offerings of flowers, etc. It was charming on account of the latticed windows out of which were issuing out scented fumes, and flags were merrily flapping on the housetops which were decorated with domes of gold pitchers surrounded with big crests of silver.

34. As soon as the young damsels heard of his arrival, they immediately abandoned their domestic work and even their husbands in bed and flocked to the royal road (the main street) to see the one object worthy of drinking with (the goblets in the form of) eyes by the people, even though due to their eagerness to see him and in their haste, their locks of hair got dishevelled and the knots of silken garments, loose.

35. Women who climbed the terraces of their houses saw Kṛṣṇa along with his queens on the road that was crowded with elephants, horses, chariots and footmen. They showered flowers over him and embraced him with their hearts and extended a warm welcome to him with their profusely smiling looks.

36. Observing the queens of Mukunda (Kṛṣṇa) on the road accompanying their husband like constellations of stars surrounding the moon, the women of the town remarked to each other: (We don’t know) what meritorious act must have been done by these consorts of Kṛṣṇa whereby this excellent-most personality (of Kṛṣṇa) extends (offers) delight to their eyes with his noble smiles and winsome amorous looks.

37. In the town, at every stage, citizens with auspicious things in their hands, approached Kṛṣṇa and worshipped him. So did the leaders of trade-guilds rid themselves of all sins.

38. Warmly received by ladies of the harem with their eyes blooming with joy and excited with eagerness, Kṛṣṇa entered the palace of the king Yudhiṣṭhira.

39. When Kuntī beheld her brother’s son Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the three worlds, her heart was full of delight and affection. She got up from the couch along with her daughter- in-law Draupadī and hugged him (affectionately).

40. Having brought Kṛṣṇa, the God of gods to his palace, with respect and devotion, king Yudhiṣṭhira was so beside himself with joy that he could not understand how to proceed with, the formalities of worship (of such a respectable guest).

41. O king Parīkṣit! Śrī Kṛṣṇa, however, bowed down to his paternal aunt Kuntī and paid respects to elderly ladies. He himself was bowed down by Draupadī and his sister Subhadrā.

42-43. Instructed by her mother-in-law Kuntī, Draupadī duly worshipped the queens of Kṛṣṇa such as Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā, Bhadrā, Jāmbavatī, Kālindī, Mitravindā. Śaibyā, and the pious Nāgnajitī and other women-guests, with garments, wreaths of flowers, ornaments, etc.

44. King Dharmarāja made comfortable arrangement of lodging for Śrī Kṛṣṇa and that of his queens, members of the army, followers and counsellors providing everyday with new objects of enjoyment.

45. Accompanied with Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa propitiated the Fire-god, offering him the Khāṇḍava forest for consumption. He rescued Maya (from the fire) who constructed a heavenly assembly-hall for king Yudhiṣṭhira.

46. With the desire of pleasing king Yudhiṣṭhira, Kṛṣṇa stayed many months at Inḍraprastha. Occasionally, surrounded by warriors, he rode out in a chariot with Arjuna for excursion and sport.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Gujarat and part of Malwa—GDAMI, p. 7.

[2]:

N.L. De accepts Alberuni’s identification of Sauvīra with Multan and Jahrawar—Ibid, p. 183.

[3]:

Marwar, a part of Rajasthan—Ibid, p. 127.

[4]:

Near modern Sirsa in Kurukṣetra or Brahmāvarta—the land between the Sarasvatī and the Dṛṣadvatī—ṢGAMI, p. 49.

[5]:

The territory of Jaipur including Alwar and some part of Bharatpur—GDAMI, p. 128.

[6]:

SR. explains: While Arjuna bent to bow Kṛṣṇa, being equal in age, Kṛṣṇa held him up in his embrace while he was bowed down by Nakula and Sahadeva, his juniors.

[7]:

The annotators differ slightly in assigning these musical activities among sūtas—upto Brāhmaṇas and court-jesters. VT. is uncertain, hence Bhāgavata Candrikā is followed.