Book V. Chapter Xxii
*
"The Vishnu Purana", translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, [1840],
p. 563
Chap. Xxii.
Jarsandha besieges Mathur; is defeated, but repeatedly renews the attack.
Parara.--The mighty Kansa had married the two daughters of Jarsandha, one named Asti, the other Prpt. Jarsandha was king of Magadh, and a very powerful prince 1; who, when he heard that Krishna had killed his son-in-law, was much incensed, and, collecting a large force, marched against Mathur, determined to put the Ydavas and Krishna to the sword. Accordingly he invested the city with three and twenty numerous divisions of his forces 2. Rma and Janrddana sallied from the town with a slender, but resolute force, and fought bravely with the armies of Magadh. The two youthful leaders prudently resolved to have recourse to their ancient weapons, and accordingly the bow of Hari, with two quivers filled with exhaustless arrows, and the mace called Kaumodaki, and the ploughshare of Balabhadra, as well as the club Saunanda, descended at a wish from heaven. Armed with these weapons, they speedily discomfited the king of Magadh and his hosts, and reentered the city in triumph.
Although the wicked king of Magadh, Jarsandha, was defeated, yet Krishna knew that whilst he escaped alive he was not subdued; and in fact he soon returned with a mighty force, and was again forced by Rma and Krishna to fly. Eighteen times 3 did the haughty prince of Magadh renew his attack upon the Ydavas, headed by Krishna; and was as often defeated and put to the rout by them, with very inferior numbers. That the Ydavas were not overpowered by their foes, was owing to the present might of the portion of the discus-armed Vishnu.
p. 564
[paragraph continues] It was the pastime of the lord of the universe, in his capacity of man, to launch various weapons against his enemies; for what effort of power to annihilate his foes could be necessary to him, whose fiat creates and destroys the world? but as subjecting himself to human customs, he formed alliances with the brave, and engaged in hostilities with the base. He had recourse to the four devices of policy, or negotiation, presents, sowing dissension, and chastisement; and sometimes even betook himself to flight. Thus imitating the conduct of human beings, the lord of the world pursued at will his sports.
Footnotes
563:1 See page 456.
563:2 With twenty-three Akshouhinis, each consisting of 109,300 infantry, 65,610 horse, 22,870 chariots, and as many elephants. The Hari Vana enumerates, as the allies or tributaries of Jarsandha, a number of princes from various parts of India, but this is a gratuitous embellishment.
563:3 The Bhgavata and Hari Vana say 'seventeen times.' The latter indulges in a prolix description of the first encounter; nothing of which occurs in the Bhgavata, any more than in our text.
"The Vishnu Purana", translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, [1840],
p. 563
Chap. Xxii.
Jarsandha besieges Mathur; is defeated, but repeatedly renews the attack.
Parara.--The mighty Kansa had married the two daughters of Jarsandha, one named Asti, the other Prpt. Jarsandha was king of Magadh, and a very powerful prince 1; who, when he heard that Krishna had killed his son-in-law, was much incensed, and, collecting a large force, marched against Mathur, determined to put the Ydavas and Krishna to the sword. Accordingly he invested the city with three and twenty numerous divisions of his forces 2. Rma and Janrddana sallied from the town with a slender, but resolute force, and fought bravely with the armies of Magadh. The two youthful leaders prudently resolved to have recourse to their ancient weapons, and accordingly the bow of Hari, with two quivers filled with exhaustless arrows, and the mace called Kaumodaki, and the ploughshare of Balabhadra, as well as the club Saunanda, descended at a wish from heaven. Armed with these weapons, they speedily discomfited the king of Magadh and his hosts, and reentered the city in triumph.
Although the wicked king of Magadh, Jarsandha, was defeated, yet Krishna knew that whilst he escaped alive he was not subdued; and in fact he soon returned with a mighty force, and was again forced by Rma and Krishna to fly. Eighteen times 3 did the haughty prince of Magadh renew his attack upon the Ydavas, headed by Krishna; and was as often defeated and put to the rout by them, with very inferior numbers. That the Ydavas were not overpowered by their foes, was owing to the present might of the portion of the discus-armed Vishnu.
p. 564
[paragraph continues] It was the pastime of the lord of the universe, in his capacity of man, to launch various weapons against his enemies; for what effort of power to annihilate his foes could be necessary to him, whose fiat creates and destroys the world? but as subjecting himself to human customs, he formed alliances with the brave, and engaged in hostilities with the base. He had recourse to the four devices of policy, or negotiation, presents, sowing dissension, and chastisement; and sometimes even betook himself to flight. Thus imitating the conduct of human beings, the lord of the world pursued at will his sports.
Footnotes
563:1 See page 456.
563:2 With twenty-three Akshouhinis, each consisting of 109,300 infantry, 65,610 horse, 22,870 chariots, and as many elephants. The Hari Vana enumerates, as the allies or tributaries of Jarsandha, a number of princes from various parts of India, but this is a gratuitous embellishment.
563:3 The Bhgavata and Hari Vana say 'seventeen times.' The latter indulges in a prolix description of the first encounter; nothing of which occurs in the Bhgavata, any more than in our text.
