185.1 Krishna,Bhima & Arjuna travel to Magadha;enter Girivraja
Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, the trio Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima set out for Magadha attired in the garb of Snataka Brahmanas of resplendent bodies, and blessed by the agreeable speeches of friends and relatives. The people, beholding Krishna and Arjuna, both of whom had never before been vanquished in battle, with Bhima in the van, all ready to achieve the same task, regarded Jarasandha as already slain. Having set out from the country of the Kurus, they passed through Kuru-jangala and arrived at the charming lake of lotuses. Passing over the hills of Kalakuta, they then went on crossing the Gandaki, the Sadanira (Karatoya), and the Sarkaravarta and the other rivers taking their rise in the same mountains. They then crossed the delightful Sarayu and saw the country of Eastern Kosala. Passing over that country they went to Mithila and then crossing the Mala and Charamanwati, the three heroes crossed the Ganges and the Sone and went on towards the east. At last they arrived at Magadha in the heart of the country of Kushamva. Reaching then the hills of Goratha, they saw the city of Magadha
Vasudeva said " O Partha, behold the great capital of Magadha, standing in all its beauty. Filled with flocks and herds and its stock of water never exhausted, and adorned also with fine mansions standing in excellent array, it is free from every kind of calamity. The five large hills of Vaihara, Varaha, Vrishava, Rishigiri, and the delightful Chaitya, all of high peaks and overgrown with tall trees of cool shade and connected with one another, seem to be jointly protecting the city of Girivraja. The breasts of the hills are concealed by forests of delightful and fragrant Lodhras having the ends of their branches covered with flowers. It was here that the illustrious Gautama begat on the Sudra woman Ausinari (the daughter of Usinara) Kakshivat and other celebrated sons. That the race sprung from Gautama does still live under the sway of an ordinary human monarch is only evidence of Gautama's kindness to kings. O Arjuna, it was here that in olden times the mighty monarchs of Anga, and Vanga and other countries, came to the abode of Gautama, and passed their days in joy and happiness. Behold those forests of delightfu Pippalas and beautiful Lodhras standing near the side of Gautama's abode. There dwelt in old days those Nagas, Arvuda and Sakravapin, those persecutors of all enemies, as also the Naga Swastika and that other excellent Naga called Manu. Manu himself had ordered the country of the Magadhas to be never afflicted with drought, and Kaushika and Manimat also have favoured the country. Owning such a delightful and impregnable city, Jarasandha is ever bent on seeking the fruition of his purposes unlike other monarchs. However, by slaying him today we shall humble his pride."
They entered the city of Magadha. They then approached towards the impregnable city of Girivraja that was full of cheerful and well-fed inhabitants belonging to all the four orders, and where festivities were perennial. On arriving at the gate of the city, the brothers instead of passing through it, began to pierce with their shafts the heart of the high Chaityaka peak that was worshipped by the race of Vrihadratha, as also by the citizens. There Vrihadratha had slain a cannibal called Rishava and made of his hide three drums which he placed in his own city. And those drums were such that once beaten their sound lasted one full month. And the brothers broke down the Chaityaka peak, at that point where those drums covered with celestial flowers used to yield their continuous sound. By this act they seemed to place their feet upon the head of their foe. And attacking with their mighty arms that immovable and huge and high and old and celebrated peak , those heroes broke it down. And with joyful hearts they then entered the city. It so happened that the learned Brahmanas residing within the city saw many evil omens which they reported to Jarasandha. The priest making the king mount an elephant, whirled lighted brands about him. King Jarasandha also, with a view to warding of those evils, entered upon the celebration of a sacrifice, with proper vows and fasts. Meanwhile, the brothers unarmed, or rather with their bare arms as their only weapons, entered the capital in the guise of Brahmanas. They beheld the extraordinary beauty of the shops full of various edibles and floral wreaths, and supplied with articles of every variety of various qualities that man can desire. Krishna, Bhima, and Dhananjaya, beholding in those shops their affluence, passed along the public road. Endowed with great strength, they snatched forcibly from the flower-vendors the garlands they had exposed for sale.And attired in robes of various colours and decked in garlands and ear-rings the heroes entered the abode of Jarasandha. The people of Magadha, beholding those heroes looking like elephants, began to wonder much. Passing through three gates that were crowded with men, they proudly and cheerfully approached the king.
Vasudeva said " O Partha, behold the great capital of Magadha, standing in all its beauty. Filled with flocks and herds and its stock of water never exhausted, and adorned also with fine mansions standing in excellent array, it is free from every kind of calamity. The five large hills of Vaihara, Varaha, Vrishava, Rishigiri, and the delightful Chaitya, all of high peaks and overgrown with tall trees of cool shade and connected with one another, seem to be jointly protecting the city of Girivraja. The breasts of the hills are concealed by forests of delightful and fragrant Lodhras having the ends of their branches covered with flowers. It was here that the illustrious Gautama begat on the Sudra woman Ausinari (the daughter of Usinara) Kakshivat and other celebrated sons. That the race sprung from Gautama does still live under the sway of an ordinary human monarch is only evidence of Gautama's kindness to kings. O Arjuna, it was here that in olden times the mighty monarchs of Anga, and Vanga and other countries, came to the abode of Gautama, and passed their days in joy and happiness. Behold those forests of delightfu Pippalas and beautiful Lodhras standing near the side of Gautama's abode. There dwelt in old days those Nagas, Arvuda and Sakravapin, those persecutors of all enemies, as also the Naga Swastika and that other excellent Naga called Manu. Manu himself had ordered the country of the Magadhas to be never afflicted with drought, and Kaushika and Manimat also have favoured the country. Owning such a delightful and impregnable city, Jarasandha is ever bent on seeking the fruition of his purposes unlike other monarchs. However, by slaying him today we shall humble his pride."
They entered the city of Magadha. They then approached towards the impregnable city of Girivraja that was full of cheerful and well-fed inhabitants belonging to all the four orders, and where festivities were perennial. On arriving at the gate of the city, the brothers instead of passing through it, began to pierce with their shafts the heart of the high Chaityaka peak that was worshipped by the race of Vrihadratha, as also by the citizens. There Vrihadratha had slain a cannibal called Rishava and made of his hide three drums which he placed in his own city. And those drums were such that once beaten their sound lasted one full month. And the brothers broke down the Chaityaka peak, at that point where those drums covered with celestial flowers used to yield their continuous sound. By this act they seemed to place their feet upon the head of their foe. And attacking with their mighty arms that immovable and huge and high and old and celebrated peak , those heroes broke it down. And with joyful hearts they then entered the city. It so happened that the learned Brahmanas residing within the city saw many evil omens which they reported to Jarasandha. The priest making the king mount an elephant, whirled lighted brands about him. King Jarasandha also, with a view to warding of those evils, entered upon the celebration of a sacrifice, with proper vows and fasts. Meanwhile, the brothers unarmed, or rather with their bare arms as their only weapons, entered the capital in the guise of Brahmanas. They beheld the extraordinary beauty of the shops full of various edibles and floral wreaths, and supplied with articles of every variety of various qualities that man can desire. Krishna, Bhima, and Dhananjaya, beholding in those shops their affluence, passed along the public road. Endowed with great strength, they snatched forcibly from the flower-vendors the garlands they had exposed for sale.And attired in robes of various colours and decked in garlands and ear-rings the heroes entered the abode of Jarasandha. The people of Magadha, beholding those heroes looking like elephants, began to wonder much. Passing through three gates that were crowded with men, they proudly and cheerfully approached the king.