184.1 Krishna's assesment of the political situation
Krishna said " You are a worthy possessor of all the qualities essential for the performance of the Rajasuya sacrifice. You know everything. I shall, however, still tell you something.
Those persons in the world that now go by the name of Kshatriyas are inferior to those Kshatriyas that Rama, the son of Jamadagnya, exterminated. You know what form of rule these Kshatriyas, guided by the instructions traditionally handed down from generation to generation, have established amongst their own order, and how far they are competent to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice. The numerous royal lines and other ordinary Kshatriyas all represent themselves to be the descendants of Aila and Ikshwaku. The descendants of Aila, and the kings of Ikshwaku's race are now each divided into a hundred separate dynasties. The descendants of Yayati and the Bhojas are great, both in number and accomplishments. They are to-day scattered all over the earth. All the Kshatriyas worship the prosperity of those monarchs.
At present, however, king Jarasandha, overcoming that prosperity enjoyed by their whole order, and overpowering them by his energy has set himself over the heads of all these kings, enjoying the
sovereignty over Mathura, resolved to create a disunion amongst ourselves. King Sisupala endowed with great energy, has placed himself under his protection and has become the generalissimo of his forces. The mighty Vaka, the king of the Karushas, capable of fighting by putting forth his powers of illusion, waits upon Jarasandha, as his disciple. There are two others, Hansa and Dimvaka, who have sought the shelter of the mighty Jarasandha. There are others also viz., Dantavakra, Karusha, Karava, Meghavahana, that wait upon Jarasandha. Bhagadatta, that king of Yavanas, who bears on his head that gem which is known as the most wonderful on earth, who has chastised Muru and Naraka, whose power is unlimited, and who rules the west like another Varuna, and who is the old friend of your father, has bowed his head before Jarasandha, by speech and specially by act. In his heart, however, tied as he is by affection to you , he regards you as a father regards his child. That lord of the earth who hath his dominions on the west and the south, who is your maternal uncle and who is called Purujit, that brave perpetuator of the Kunti race, is the single king that regards you from affection. He whom I did not formerly slay, that wicked wretch amongst the Chedis, who represented himself in this world as a divine personage and who has become known also as such, and who always bears, from foolishness, the signs that distinguish me, that king of Vanga Pundra and the Kiratas and who is known on earth by the names of Paundraka and Vasudeva has also espoused the side of Jarasandha. Bhishmaka, the mighty king of the Bhojas--the friend of Indra, who governs a fourth part of the world, who by his learning conquered the Pandyas and the Kratha-Kausikas, whose brother the brave Akriti was like Rama, the son of Jamdagni, has become a servitor to the king of Magadha. We are his relatives and are, therefore, engaged everyday in doing what is agreeable unto him. But although we regard him much, still he regards us not and is engaged in doing us ill. Without knowing his own strength and the dignity of the race to which he belongs, he has placed himself under Jarasandha's shelter at the sight of the latter's blazing fame alone. The eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas, the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis. And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all fled to the country of the Kuntis. So also the Matsyas and the Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, leaving their dominions in the north, have fled into the southern country. And so all the Panchalas, alarmed at the power of Jarasandha, have left their own kingdom and fled in all directions.
Those persons in the world that now go by the name of Kshatriyas are inferior to those Kshatriyas that Rama, the son of Jamadagnya, exterminated. You know what form of rule these Kshatriyas, guided by the instructions traditionally handed down from generation to generation, have established amongst their own order, and how far they are competent to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice. The numerous royal lines and other ordinary Kshatriyas all represent themselves to be the descendants of Aila and Ikshwaku. The descendants of Aila, and the kings of Ikshwaku's race are now each divided into a hundred separate dynasties. The descendants of Yayati and the Bhojas are great, both in number and accomplishments. They are to-day scattered all over the earth. All the Kshatriyas worship the prosperity of those monarchs.
At present, however, king Jarasandha, overcoming that prosperity enjoyed by their whole order, and overpowering them by his energy has set himself over the heads of all these kings, enjoying the
sovereignty over Mathura, resolved to create a disunion amongst ourselves. King Sisupala endowed with great energy, has placed himself under his protection and has become the generalissimo of his forces. The mighty Vaka, the king of the Karushas, capable of fighting by putting forth his powers of illusion, waits upon Jarasandha, as his disciple. There are two others, Hansa and Dimvaka, who have sought the shelter of the mighty Jarasandha. There are others also viz., Dantavakra, Karusha, Karava, Meghavahana, that wait upon Jarasandha. Bhagadatta, that king of Yavanas, who bears on his head that gem which is known as the most wonderful on earth, who has chastised Muru and Naraka, whose power is unlimited, and who rules the west like another Varuna, and who is the old friend of your father, has bowed his head before Jarasandha, by speech and specially by act. In his heart, however, tied as he is by affection to you , he regards you as a father regards his child. That lord of the earth who hath his dominions on the west and the south, who is your maternal uncle and who is called Purujit, that brave perpetuator of the Kunti race, is the single king that regards you from affection. He whom I did not formerly slay, that wicked wretch amongst the Chedis, who represented himself in this world as a divine personage and who has become known also as such, and who always bears, from foolishness, the signs that distinguish me, that king of Vanga Pundra and the Kiratas and who is known on earth by the names of Paundraka and Vasudeva has also espoused the side of Jarasandha. Bhishmaka, the mighty king of the Bhojas--the friend of Indra, who governs a fourth part of the world, who by his learning conquered the Pandyas and the Kratha-Kausikas, whose brother the brave Akriti was like Rama, the son of Jamdagni, has become a servitor to the king of Magadha. We are his relatives and are, therefore, engaged everyday in doing what is agreeable unto him. But although we regard him much, still he regards us not and is engaged in doing us ill. Without knowing his own strength and the dignity of the race to which he belongs, he has placed himself under Jarasandha's shelter at the sight of the latter's blazing fame alone. The eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas, the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis. And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all fled to the country of the Kuntis. So also the Matsyas and the Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, leaving their dominions in the north, have fled into the southern country. And so all the Panchalas, alarmed at the power of Jarasandha, have left their own kingdom and fled in all directions.