Philosophy and Religion / Mahabharata

Mahabharata

Jayadratha Vimokshana Parva

Vaishampayana said:
Beholding the two brothers with upraised weapons, Jayadratha, desirous of living, stricken sorely with grief, ran away speedily and coolly.

But getting down from his chariot the powerful Bhimasena pursued him speedily, who had thus taken to his heels and seized him by the hair of his head.

Holding him up Bhima again crushed him on earth; then taking the king by the head, he knocked him about.

When regaining his consciousness he expressed his desire of getting up the mighty-armed heroes kicked him on the head.

Bhima struck him on the breast with his knees and fists; and thus assailed the king soon lost his consciousness.

Falguna prevented the wrathful Bhimasena by reminding him of what the Kaurava king had said on behalf of Duhshala.

Bhima said:
"This vilest and foolish man has done a great injury to Krishna who does not deserve it; so he does not deserve to live.

But what can I do? The king is always merciful and you too, out of childishness, are always preventing me."

Having said this Vrikodara, with his crescent-shaped arrow, shaved the hair of the king's head keeping five tufts at five places. But (Jayadratha) did not utter a word.

Thereupon Vrikodara said to the king, "O fool, if you wish to live, listen, I shall tell you the means.

In public meetings and open courts you should always say that you are our slave; (if you can make this condition) I can give you your life. This is the custom of the victorious."

Being thus treated the king Jayadratha said to that best of men, Bhima, who beautifies the battle-field "So be it."

Thereupon taking him who was unconscious and besmeared with dust Partha and Vrikodara placed him on the chariot.

Thereupon placing him on the car, Bhima, followed by Partha, reached the hermitage and approached Yudhishthira who sat in the middle.

Bhima showed him Jayadratha who was in that plight. Seeing him, the king smilingly said "set him at liberty,"

Bhima said to the king, "Tell Draupadi, that this vile man has become the slave of the Pandavas."

Thereupon his eldest brother said to him a affectionate terms. "If you have any regard for me let him be free."

Beholding Yudhishthira Draupadi also said to Bhima, "Release him who is the slave of the king and whom you have disfigured by leaving five tufts on his head."

Being released he approached and bowed to the king Yudhishthira; and seeing the ascetics there, he, beside himself, saluted them all.

Beholding Jayadratha supported by Savyasachi, the kind Yudhishthira, Dharma's son, said to him,

"You are a free man, go, I release you; but do not commit any such thing again. Fie on you! You wanted to take away a female by force, although you are so weak and powerless.

What other vile man, except you, would think of doing this again?" Knowing that he had lost heart and looking at that perpetrator of evil deed, the foremost of Bharatas and king of men showed mercy (saying), "May your heart grow in virtue, never think of doing any such impious deed.

O Jayadratha, go now in peace with your charioteers, cavalry and infantry." Being this accosted he was filled with shame; then bending low his head,

And stricken with sorrow the king, O Bharata, went to the gate of the Ganges. Then seeking the shelter of the deity Virupaksha, the lord of Uma.

He engaged in great austerity and Shiva was pleased with him. Being pleased the three-eyed deity himself brought his offerings.

The Deity conferred upon him a boon and hear, how he took it, "May I be able to vanquish in battle all the five sons of Pandu on their chariots."

This the king said to the god but he said "this cannot be." You shall once check them in battle who are unconquerable and are not capable of being slain, except the mighty-armed Arjuna who is the lord of the celestials incarnate named Nara. He carried on devout penances in Badari and is backed by Narayana.

He is unconquerable by all men even by the celestials; I myself have given him the celestial shaft Pashupata. He obtained from the Lokapalas thunderbolt and other mighty shafts.

The great god Vishnu, the Infinite Spirit, the Lord preceptor of the celestials, is the unmanifest, Pradhana Purusha, the soul of the universe and has His manifestation in the universe.

At the end of the Yuga, assuming the form of the all consuming fire he burnt down the universe, with mountains, seas, islands, hills, woods and forest.

After he had consumed the region of the Nagas who range in the region underneath the earth, huge clouds of many colours were seen in the sky.

Loud sounding accompanied by lighting and spreading all over the sky.

Then filling all quarters with showers thick as axles of cars they extinguished that all-consuming fire.

When at the end of the four thousand Yugas the earth was over flooded with water like one vast ocean and all mobile and immobile creatures were silenced to death, the sun, moon and the winds were all destroyed and the universe was shorn of planets and stars, the supreme being, Narayana, who is beyond the perception of senses and is adorned with a thousand heads eyes and ears, longed for rest. The dreadful serpent Shesha, having thousand heads and the lustre of ten thousand suns and white as the Kunda flower or the moon or a string of pearls or the white lotus or milk, of fibres of lotus, became His conch. There the Divine Lord slept on the bosom of the deep enveloping all quarters with nocturnal darkness.

When His creative faculty was excited he awoke and saw the universe void of everything. In this connection there is a Sloka recited (throwing light on the word) Narayana.

The water was the body of the (Rishi) Nara and we hear it called Nara; and because it formed his resting place he is called Narayana.

As soon as the Eternal deity engaged in thought for the creation of progeny a lotus sprang up from the navel of the Divine Lord.

Thereupon arose from the lotus navel the four-headed deity Brahma; there on the lotus sat all on a sudden the Grandfather of the creatures.

Seeing the universe entirely blank he created after him and from his mind the nine great ascetics Marichi and others.

They also seeing the same thing, created Yakshas, Rakshasas, Pishachas, reptiles, men and all mobile and immobile creatures.

There are three states of the supreme being; in the form of Brahma, he is the creator, in the form of Vishnu, he is the preserver and in the form of Rudra he is the destroyer.

O king of Sindhu, have you not heard of the marvellous exploits of Vishnu recounted to you by the ascetics and Brahmanas well-versed in the Vedas?

While the entire surface of the earth was converted into a vast expanse of water, with only one sky above it, the lord, like a fire-fly at night during the rainy season, moved about here and there in search of a permanent footing for re-establishing the earth.

Beholding the earth submerged in water he made up his mind to rescue it (He thought)
"Assuming what form shall I rescue the earth from water?''

Thus thinking in his mind and seeing with his divine eyes he thought of the shape of a boar fond of sporting in water.

Assuming the form of a sacrificial boar, effulgent and instinct with the Vedas, ten yojanas in length, with pointed tusks, having the hue of dark clouds, a body huge as a mountain and roaring like the muttering of clouds, the Lord went into the water, raised up the Earth with one of its tusks and replaced it in its proper place.

Again assuming a wonderful form, half-lion, half-man, the mighty armed Lord, squeezing his hand, went to the court of the king of Daityas. The first man of the Daitya race, the enemy of the celestials, the son of Diti, beholding this wonderful form, became worked up with anger and his eyes became red.

Hiranyakashipu, the heroic son of Diti and the enemy of the celestials adorned with garlands and looking like a mass of dark clouds, rushed on that Being half lion, half man, with an uplifted mace in his hand.

Then approaching him, that king of beasts, half lion, half man, immediately rent him with his sharp claws.

Having thus slain the king of Daityas, the killer of his enemies, for the behalf of creatures, the lotus-eyed, effulgent lord, again took his birth as Kashyapa's son in the womb of Aditi. At the expiration of full one thousand years she was delivered of that excellent conception.

He became of dwarfish stature, with bright eyes and of the complexion of the rain-charged clouds. He had the ascetic staff and Kamandalu (water pot) in his hand and was adorned with the mystic mark of Srivatsa on his breast.

The Lord wore matted locks, the sacrificial thread and was stout, beautiful and effulgent.

With the help of Brihaspati he entered into the sacrificial ground of Bali. Beholding his dwarfish stature Bali laughed and said,

"I am pleased on seeing you, O Vipra, tell me what can I give you." Being thus accosted by Bali the dwarf replied. Saying "may good betide you" the Deity smilingly said to Bali, "O king of Danavas, give me land to cover my three footsteps."

Delightedly Bali gave what that highly powerful Vipra wanted, Thereupon while measuring the space Hari assumed a highly wonderful form.

With his three foot-steps he immediately covered the entire earth then the eternal deity Vishnu gave the earth to Shakra.

This history which I have just related is known as the incarnation of the dwarf; from him all the celestials came into being and the universe is called Vaishnava (or pervaded by Vishnu).

For the suppression of the impious and the protection of virtue he has taken his birth among men in the race of the Yadus.

That Divine Vishnu is now called Krishna. That unborn Deity, without beginning or end, is adored by the world.

These are his achievement, O Saindhava, whom the wise thus describe. They call him the unconquerable Krishna, with conch, discus and club in his hands.

The Deity has the mystic mark of Srivatsa, is clad in yellow silken raiment and is the best of those versed in the use of weapons. (Arjuna) is protected by such Krishna.

The graceful, lotus-eyed deity of incomparable prowess, the slayer of hostile heroes in his help and he rides with Partha in the same chariot.

Even the celestials with great difficulty cannot defeat him; how can again a man vanquish Partha in battle?

Leaving him alone you shall for one day defeat the army of Yudhishthira, O king, with your four enemies.

Vaishampayana said:
Having said this to the king, Hara, the destroyer of all sins, Uma's lord, Pashupati, the destroyer of (Daksha's) sacrifice, the slayer of Tripura.

He, who had taken out the eyes of Bhaga encircled by his dwarfish haunch-backed and dreadful followers, with fearful eyes and ears and uplifted weapons, Traymbaka, having Uma as his help, disappeared.

The vicious-minded Jayadratha too repaired to his own house, the Pandavas too lived in the forest of Kamyaka.

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