Part 65 (1/2)

The Monkey-general Dvi-vid was a minister of Sugriva and brother of Mainda. He was a friend of Naraka, son of Earth. To take revenge for his friend's death, he began to do all sorts of mischief, especially in the regions of Dvaraka.

Balarama was in the midst of some girls on the Raivataka hill. The monkey made all sorts of gestures to annoy and insult the girls and he provoked Balarama again and again who then killed Dvi-vid, to the great joy of all.

SaMBA, LAKSHANa AND BALARaMA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 68.*

Lakshana, daughter of Duryodhana, was to select her own husband, and there was an a.s.sembly of princes. Samba, son of Jambavati, carried away the girl by force. The Kauravas could not brook this insult. Bhishma, Kama, Salya, Bhuri, Yajna Ketu and Duryodhana united to defeat Samba and they brought him back as a prisoner. Narada gave the information to the Vrishnis and their chief Ugrasena gave them permission to fight with the Kauravas. Balarama did not like that the Kurus and Yadus should fight with one another. So he went himself to Hastinapura. He remained outside the town and sent Uddhava to learn the views of Dhrita-Rashtra. The Kurus came in a body to receive Balarama. When the formalities were over, Balarama composedly asked the Kurus, in the name of king Ugrasena, to restore Samba. The Kurus proudly replied: ”We have given the kingdom to the Vrishnis and Yadus. A wonder indeed, they want to become our equals and to dictate to us! Surely the lamb cannot take away the lion's game.”

Balarama thought how foolish the Kurus had become. They did not know the powers of Ugrasena and of Krishna. In anger he exclaimed, ”I will make the earth to be stripped of all Kauravas” He took his plough and gave a pull to Hastinapura. The town became topsy-turvy. The Kurus came and adored him. They brought back Samba and Lakshana. Duryodhana made large presents and Balarama became appeased. He went back with Samba and his bride to Hastinapura and related what had happened to the Yadus.

NARADA AND THE WIVES OF SRI KRISHNA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 69.*

”What a wonder that Sri Krishna married 16 thousand girls, all at one and the same time, with but one body!” So thought Narada and he came to see things with his own eyes at Dvaraka. He entered one of the rooms and found Krishna seated with one of the girls. Krishna washed the feet of Narada and sprinkled the water over his body.

The Ris.h.i.+ entered another room. Krishna was playing at dice with one of his wives and with Uddhava. He entered another room and found Krishna was taking care of his children.

So he entered room after room. Krishna was either bathing or making preparations for the sacrifice, or feeding Brahmanas, or making recitals of Gayatri, or riding, or driving, or taking counsel of ministers, or making gifts, or hearing recitals of sacred books. He was in one place following Dharma, in one Artha and in another Kama.

Narada smiled and said: - ”O Lord of Yoga, I know the Yogic Maya, by service at Thy feet, as it is manifest in me, though hard of perception by those that are themselves under the influence of Maya. Now permit me to roam about the Lokas, filled with Thy glory, singing Thy deeds, which purify all the worlds.”

Sri Krishna said: -

”O Brahmana, I am the teacher, the maker and the recogniser of Dharma.

It is to teach people that I have resorted to all this. O Son, do not be deluded.”

THE RAJA SUYA AND JARASANDHA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 70-73.*

Krishna was holding council in the a.s.sembly Room called Sudharma. A Brahmana came as a messenger from the Rajas who had been imprisoned by Jarasandha and confined in a hill fort. The Rajas sought their delivery from Krishna, who had defeated Jarasandha seven times and had been defeated by him only once.

Narada appeared at the time. Krishna enquired from him about the Pandavas. The Ris.h.i.+ said: -

”Raja Yudhisthira intends to perform the great Yajna Raja Suya in Thy honor. Please give thy consent”. Krishna turned towards Uddhava and asked for advice.

Uddhava gauged the feelings of Narada, of Krishna and the a.s.sembly and said: -

”It is meet thou shouldst help thy cousin in the performance of Raja Suya Yajna and also that thou shouldst protect the Rajas that seek relief from thee. Kings all round will have to be conquered at the Raja Suya sacrifice. The defeat of Jarasandha will follow as a matter of course. Thus shall we see the fulfilment of our great desire and the liberation of the Rajas shall redound to Thy glory. Both ends will be served in this way. But Jarasandha is very powerful. He should not be fought with while at the head of his large army. Bhima is equal to him in strength. Let him fight singly with Jarasandha. That king does not refuse any prayer of Brahmanas. Let Bhima ask for single combat in the disguise of a Brahmana. Surely that son of Pandu will kill him in thy presence.”

Krishna gave kind a.s.surances to the messenger of the captive kings and left for Hastinapura.

The Pandavas vied with one another in shewing respectful love to Krishna and Arjuna delivered up the Khandava forest to Agni and liberated Maya.

In return for this kindness, Maya made the magical a.s.sembly ground for the Yajna.

All the kings were brought under submission by Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva and the allied kings, except Jarasandha.