Seeing an auspicious day, Krishna along with Arjuna and Bhima left for Magadha. They went in the guise of ascetics. Crossing rives, lakes and mountains, they reached the kingdom of Magadha. It was surrounded by five hills. Krishna said he would tell them about the five hills. The hills would embrace the city if enemies approached. The gates were guarded by two ferocious snakes. The gates could scream and if the enemies came till the gates unannounced, the gates would raise a huge noise and awake the city and make the citizens aware.
Krishna said they would need to enter the city very carefully. The screaming gates and hills had to be avoided. Krishna thought of Garuda. Garuda, the enemies of snakes arrived. Seeing him, the sankes fearing their lives fled.
Arjuna said he would tackle the gates. With an arrow he shot down the gates. They then climbed the mountains. The peaks started trembling, trying to close but Bhima broke the mountains. Bhima, with Krishna and Arjuna quickly jumped into and entered the city.
It was a beautiful city. Peaceful, with flowers scattered around. They got three garlands and put those around their necks. They roamed around till they reached the palace of Jarasandha. As they were dressed as brahmins, they were not stopped from entering.
They saw the king, sitting in a sacrifice.
Seeing three brahmanas enter, the king got up and welcomed them. He gave them seats to sit. He then looked at them closely. These brahmanas had broad shoulders, long arms and their hands had marks that came from yeilding weapons.
The king said, sages wear garlands around their necks, which brahmanas usually do not. You are dressed like brahmanas but have marks Tell the truth. Who are you? Why are you here?
Krishna said, Flowers and garlands are beloved of Lakshmi, and those who worship prosperity (Lakshmi) adorn themselves. You said we did not ask permission for entering but walked in straight. We have not come in peace which is why we barged in.
Jarasandha said he did not recall having had a feud with the three of them. He said he did not attack without being provoked and did not go around making enemies.
Kirshna said It was the opposite. Jarasandha had captured ninety five kings and had made them prisoners. He was awaiting five more. When he had a hundred captured kings, he would sacrifice them in front of Shiva and proclaim himself emperor. Krishna said he was against this kind of practice and he wanted to put an end to this. He then he said he was the same person had got defeated and had run away to Dwarka. He was Krishna, son of Vasudeva. Two of the sons of Pandu, Bhima and Arjuna, were with him.
Krishna asked Jarasandha to surrender or have fight.
Jarasandha got angry. He said You talk of the olden days. You ran away and hid in the middle of the sea when you were defeated. You tell me to release kings, whom I have fought and capture using my force. You have no right to say anything. The kings will be sacrificed in front of Shiva. Do not talk of olden days, O son of cowherd. You ask for a fight even after facing defeats.
Bhima hearing this started shaking in anger. Krishna said Jarasandha was free to choose that one person of the three he wanted to fight.
Jarasandha said, if a fight was needed, it would happen. He was ready. The three were not. They were not prepared for war. Krishna said a war between armies was known. How about a man to man combat.
Jarasandha said he was fine with that. He looked and said Arjuna was a child in front of him. Krishna was not eligible. Bhima came close and he would choose Bhima for a wrestling match.
The king got up and got two strong maces. He gave one to Bhima. They went to the arena where they would wrestle.
Krishna said they would need to enter the city very carefully. The screaming gates and hills had to be avoided. Krishna thought of Garuda. Garuda, the enemies of snakes arrived. Seeing him, the sankes fearing their lives fled.
Arjuna said he would tackle the gates. With an arrow he shot down the gates. They then climbed the mountains. The peaks started trembling, trying to close but Bhima broke the mountains. Bhima, with Krishna and Arjuna quickly jumped into and entered the city.
It was a beautiful city. Peaceful, with flowers scattered around. They got three garlands and put those around their necks. They roamed around till they reached the palace of Jarasandha. As they were dressed as brahmins, they were not stopped from entering.
They saw the king, sitting in a sacrifice.
Seeing three brahmanas enter, the king got up and welcomed them. He gave them seats to sit. He then looked at them closely. These brahmanas had broad shoulders, long arms and their hands had marks that came from yeilding weapons.
The king said, sages wear garlands around their necks, which brahmanas usually do not. You are dressed like brahmanas but have marks Tell the truth. Who are you? Why are you here?
Krishna said, Flowers and garlands are beloved of Lakshmi, and those who worship prosperity (Lakshmi) adorn themselves. You said we did not ask permission for entering but walked in straight. We have not come in peace which is why we barged in.
Jarasandha said he did not recall having had a feud with the three of them. He said he did not attack without being provoked and did not go around making enemies.
Kirshna said It was the opposite. Jarasandha had captured ninety five kings and had made them prisoners. He was awaiting five more. When he had a hundred captured kings, he would sacrifice them in front of Shiva and proclaim himself emperor. Krishna said he was against this kind of practice and he wanted to put an end to this. He then he said he was the same person had got defeated and had run away to Dwarka. He was Krishna, son of Vasudeva. Two of the sons of Pandu, Bhima and Arjuna, were with him.
Krishna asked Jarasandha to surrender or have fight.
Jarasandha got angry. He said You talk of the olden days. You ran away and hid in the middle of the sea when you were defeated. You tell me to release kings, whom I have fought and capture using my force. You have no right to say anything. The kings will be sacrificed in front of Shiva. Do not talk of olden days, O son of cowherd. You ask for a fight even after facing defeats.
Bhima hearing this started shaking in anger. Krishna said Jarasandha was free to choose that one person of the three he wanted to fight.
Jarasandha said, if a fight was needed, it would happen. He was ready. The three were not. They were not prepared for war. Krishna said a war between armies was known. How about a man to man combat.
Jarasandha said he was fine with that. He looked and said Arjuna was a child in front of him. Krishna was not eligible. Bhima came close and he would choose Bhima for a wrestling match.
The king got up and got two strong maces. He gave one to Bhima. They went to the arena where they would wrestle.
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