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Harivaṃśa
172. Krishna's feats described
JANAMEJAYAsaid:-O foremost of the twice-born I wish to hear again truly the incomparable deeds of the intelligent Vāsudeva tire foremost of the Yadus.
O you of great effulgence, I have attained to great delight by hearing of the numberless, wonderful, heavenly and ordinary deeds of Krishna. O sinless Muni, describe them all to me. (1–3).
VAISHAMPAYANA said:-O king I had already described the many wonderful feats of the high-souled Keshava and you too have heared them repeatedly.
O you of large arms, O foremost of Bharatas, I have described them many a time no doubt, but it is impossibele to finish them.
But O great king, while you are anxious to listen to an account of the glorious deeds of Vāsudeva of incomparable power I should describe what little I, can. Hear, I shall describe them from the beginning (4–6).
While residing at Dwāravati, the intelligent Yadu king Keshava invaded the territories of many highly powerful kings (7).
At that time, a Dānava, by name Vichakra, who used to seek loop-holes of the Yādavas, was killed.
Going to the city of Prāgyotish situate at the bed of the ocean the great Keshava killed the wicked Asura Naraka. Vanquishing Vāsava he, by force, carried away his Pārijāta tree (8–9).
In the lake Lohita the divine Varuna was vanquished by Keshava. In the Deccan the Karusha king Dantavakra was killed. After he had committed a hundred offences Shishupala was slain.
O king, repairing to the city of Shonita Mādhava vanquished, in a great battle, the thousand-handed and highly powerful Vāna the son of Bali protected by Shankara and left him only alive (10-12).
All the fires in the mountains were suppressed by that high-souled one and Shalwa and Soubha were defeated and killed by him in battle (13).
Having assailed the ocean Janārddana took from him the conch-shell Panchajanya and Hayagriva and other highly powerful kings have been killed by him (14).
On Jarāsandha being slain by him all the kings have been released. Having vanquished all the kings on a single car he carried away the daughter of the Gāndhara king.
The sons of Pandu, deprived of their kingdom and stricken with sorrow, were protected by him. Having consumed the dreadful forest of Khāndava belonging to Sachi's lord he conferred Gāndiva, given by fire, on Arjuna.
O Janamejaya, when the dreadful conflict took place, this Yadu king Janārddana acted as the ambassador. On behalf of the Pāndavas he promised before Kunti.
“After the termination of the Bhārata war I will return the kingdom to your sons.” By him the highly effulgent Nriga was released of his curse and the well known Kāla Yavana was killed.
By him the highly powerful and irrepressible monkeys Mainda and Dwivida were defeated in battle and Jāmvavān was vanquished.
Although possessed by death Sandipani's son and your father was restored to life again. O Janamejaya, I had already described to you how the kings met with death in many battles destructive of men (15-23).
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