Critical Edition
राक्षस्युवाच जरा नामास्मि भद्रं ते राक्षसी कामरूपिणी तव वेश्मनि राजेन्द्र पूजिता न्यवसं सुखम्
M. N. Dutt: The Rakshasi said O king of kings, be blessed, I am a Rakshasas woman, called Jara. I am capable of going everywhere at will. Worshipped by all, I live in your house in joy.
Supplementary Passages:
2.17.1 After 1, V1 B D ins.: *185 गृहे गृहे मनुष्याणां नित्यं तिष्ठति राक्षसी गृहदेवीति नाम्ना वै पुरा सृष्टा स्वयंभुवा दानवानां विनाशाय स्थापिता दिव्यरूपिणी यो मां भक्त्या लिखेत्कुड्ये सपुत्रां यौवनान्विताम् गृहे तस्य भवेद्वृद्धिरन्यथा क्षयमाप्नुयात् त्वद्गृहे तिष्ठमाना तु पूजिताहं सदा विभो लिखिता चैव कुड्येषु पुत्रैर्बहुभिरावृता गन्धपुष्पैस्तथा धूपैर्भक्ष्यैर्भोज्यैः सुपूजिता
साहं प्रत्युपकारार्थं चिन्तयन्त्यनिशं नृप तवेमे पुत्रशकले दृष्टवत्यस्मि धार्मिक
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, O virtuous man, I always think of doing some good to you. It happened that I chanced to see the fragments of the body of you son.
संश्लेषिते मया दैवात्कुमारः समपद्यत तव भाग्यैर्महाराज हेतुमात्रमहं त्विह
M. N. Dutt: On my accidentally uniting them, a boy was born. O great king, it has so happened only out of your good fortune. I have been mere an instrument (in reviving the child).
Supplementary Passages:
2.17.3 After 3, Ñ1 V1 B D ins.: *186 मेरुं वा खादितुं शक्ता किं पुनस्तव बालकम् गृहसंपूजनात्तुष्ट्या मया प्रत्यर्पितस्तव On the other hand, T1 G3.5 M1 ins. after 3: *187 तस्य बालस्य यत्कृत्यं तत्कुरुष्व नराधिप T1 G3.5 M1 cont.: G1.2.4.6 M2 ins. after 3: *188 मम नाम्ना च लोकेऽस्मिन्ख्यात एव भविष्यति
कृष्ण उवाच एवमुक्त्वा तु सा राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत स गृह्य च कुमारं तं प्राविशत्स्वगृहं नृपः
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said O king having said this, she disappeared there and then. Obtaining the child the king then entered his own house.
तस्य बालस्य यत्कृत्यं तच्चकार नृपस्तदा आज्ञापयच्च राक्षस्या मागधेषु महोत्सवम्
M. N. Dutt: The 'king then caused all the rites and ceremonies of infancy to be performed on the child; he ordered a festival to be observed in Magadha (by his subjects) in honour of the Rakshasas woman.
तस्य नामाकरोत्तत्र प्रजापतिसमः पिता जरया संधितो यस्माज्जरासंधस्ततोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: The father (the king) who was equal to the Grandsire, then bestowed a name on that child. As the (fragments of the body of the child) was united by Jara, he was named Jarasandha.
सोऽवर्धत महातेजा मगधाधिपतेः सुतः प्रमाणबलसंपन्नो हुताहुतिरिवानलः
M. N. Dutt: The greatly powerful son of the Magadha king begin to grow up in bulk and in strength, like a fire into which libations of Ghee have been poured. He delighted the heart of his father and mother, increasing day by day like the moon in the white-fortnight.
Supplementary Passages:
2.17.7 After 7, K3 reads 8ab (for the first time), followed by (accidental) repetition of most of 7cd: *189 मागधो बलसंपन्नो * * हुतीरिवानलः V1 B D ins. after 7: G3, after 191*: *190 मातापित्रोर्नन्दिकरः शुक्लपक्षे यथा शशी After 7, G3.4 read 16-17. S ins. after 7 (G3.4 ins. after 17 transposed; G2 ins. line 2 after 2.16.9): *191 एवं स ववृधे राजन्कुमारः पुष्करेक्षणः कालेन महता चापि यौवनस्थो बभूव ह
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य पुनरेव महातपाः मगधानुपचक्राम भगवांश्चण्डकौशिकः
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said Sometime after, the great ascetic the illustrious Chandakaushika came again to the kingdom of Magadha
तस्यागमनसंहृष्टः सामात्यः सपुरःसरः सभार्यः सह पुत्रेण निर्जगाम बृहद्रथः
M. N. Dutt: Being overjoyed at the arrival of the Rishi, Brihadratha with his ministers, priest, his son and wives went out to receive him.
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयैस्तमर्चयामास भारत स नृपो राज्यसहितं पुत्रं चास्मै न्यवेदयत्
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, worshipping the Rishi with water to wash his feet and with Arghya, the king offered him his on with the whole of his kingdom.
प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां पार्थिवाद्भगवानृषिः उवाच मागधं राजन्प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना
M. N. Dutt: O king, the illustrious Rishi accepted the worship of the king and thus spoke to the king of Magadha with a delightful heart.
सर्वमेतन्मया राजन्विज्ञातं ज्ञानचक्षुषा पुत्रस्तु शृणु राजेन्द्र यादृशोऽयं भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: O king, everything is known to me thought my spiritual sight. O king of kings, hear what this your son will be.
Supplementary Passages:
2.17.12 After 12, Ś1 K B1 (marg.).2 Dn D4-6 ins.: *192 अस्य रूपं च सत्त्वं च बलमूर्जितमेव च एष श्रिया समुदितः पुत्रस्तव न संशयः प्रापयिष्यति तत्सर्वं विक्रमेण समन्वितः
अस्य वीर्यवतो वीर्यं नानुयास्यन्ति पार्थिवाः देवैरपि विसृष्टानि शस्त्राण्यस्य महीपते न रुजं जनयिष्यन्ति गिरेरिव नदीरयाः
M. N. Dutt: O king, as the river can make no impression on the mountain, so the weapons hurled upon him even by the celestials will not be able to make any impression on him.
Supplementary Passages:
2.17.13 After 13ab, Ś1 K B1 (marg.).2.4 Dn D1.2.4.6 ins.: *193 पततो वैनतेयस्य गतिमन्ये यथा खगाः B1.2.4 Dn D1.2.4 cont.: Ñ1 V1 B3.5.6 D3.5 S ins. after 13ab: *194 विनाशमुपयास्यन्ति ये चास्य परिपन्थिनः
सर्वमूर्धाभिषिक्तानामेष मूर्ध्नि ज्वलिष्यति सर्वेषां निष्प्रभकरो ज्योतिषामिव भास्करः
M. N. Dutt: He will blaze forth above the heads of all that wear crowns on their heads. Like the sun he will rob all other kings of their splendour.
एनमासाद्य राजानः समृद्धबलवाहनाः विनाशमुपयास्यन्ति शलभा इव पावकम्
M. N. Dutt: The kings who are rich in their armies and troops will meet with destruction at the hand of your son like insects in the fire.
एष श्रियं समुदितां सर्वराज्ञां ग्रहीष्यति वर्षास्विवोद्धतजला नदीर्नदनदीपतिः
M. N. Dutt: He will seize the growing prosperity of all the kings, as the ocean receives the rivers swollen with the waters of the rainy season.
एष धारयिता सम्यक्चातुर्वर्ण्यं महाबलः शुभाशुभमिव स्फीता सर्वसस्यधरा धरा
M. N. Dutt: As the wide earth bears all kinds of produce and supports those that are both good and bad, your this greatly powerful son will support all the people of the four orders.
Supplementary Passages:
2.17.17 After 17, G4 ins.: *195 श्रियं समुदिताः सर्वे भविष्यन्ति नराधिपाः
अस्याज्ञावशगाः सर्वे भविष्यन्ति नराधिपाः सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्य वायोरिव शरीरिणः
M. N. Dutt: All the kings will remain obedient to him, as all embodied beings remain obedient to the wind, which is as dear to beings as the self.
एष रुद्रं महादेवं त्रिपुरान्तकरं हरम् सर्वलोकेष्वतिबलः स्वयं द्रक्ष्यति मागधः
M. N. Dutt: This Magadha prince, this mightiest of all mighty men in the world, will see with his physical eyes the god of gods, Rudra, the slayer of Tripura, Hara.”
एवं ब्रुवन्नेव मुनिः स्वकार्यार्थं विचिन्तयन् विसर्जयामास नृपं बृहद्रथमथारिहन्
M. N. Dutt: Having said this, the Rishi, thinking of his own business, dismissed that layer of foes, the king Brihadratha.
प्रविश्य नगरं चैव ज्ञातिसंबन्धिभिर्वृतः अभिषिच्य जरासंधं मगधाधिपतिस्तदा बृहद्रथो नरपतिः परां निर्वृतिमाययौ
M. N. Dutt: The Magadha king then re-entered his capital; and summoning all his friends and relatives, he installed Jarasandha on the throne.
अभिषिक्ते जरासंधे तदा राजा बृहद्रथः पत्नीद्वयेनानुगतस्तपोवनरतोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: The king Brihadratha became greatly disgusted with all worldly pleasures. After the installation of Jarasandha, the king Brihadratha followed by his two waives went into a forest to lead the life of an ascetic.
तपोवनस्थे पितरि मातृभ्यां सह भारत जरासंधः स्ववीर्येण पार्थिवानकरोद्वशे
M. N. Dutt: O king, after his father and mother had retired into the forest, Jarasandha brought numerous kings under his sway by his velour.
अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य तपोवनगतो नृपः सभार्यः स्वर्गमगमत्तपस्तप्त्वा बृहद्रथः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having lived for a long time in the forest and practiced asceticism, (the king) Brihadratha ascended to heaven with his wives.
Supplementary Passages:
2.17.24 After 24, V1 B D S ins.: *196 जरासंधोऽपि नृपतिर्यथोक्तं कौशिकेन तत् वरप्रदानमखिलं प्राप्य राज्यमपालयत् V1 B D cont.: S (T1 G1-5 M om. lines 1-2; G6 om. lines 1-3) ins. after 199*: *197 निहते वासुदेवेन तदा कंसे महीपतौ जातो वै वैरनिर्बन्धः कृष्णेन सह तस्य वै भ्रामयित्वा शतगुणमेकोनं येन भारत गदा क्षिप्ता बलवता मागधेन गिरिव्रजात् तिष्ठतो मथुरायां वै कृष्णस्याद्भुतकर्मणः एकोनयोजनशते सा पपात गदा शुभा दृष्ट्वा पौरैस्तदा सम्यग्गदा चैव निवेदिता V1 B D further cont.: *198 गदावसानं तत्ख्यातं मथुरायां समीपतः
तस्यास्तां हंसडिभकावशस्त्रनिधनावुभौ मन्त्रे मतिमतां श्रेष्ठौ युद्धशास्त्रविशारदौ
M. N. Dutt: He (Jarasandha) had two supporters named Hansa and Dimbhaka, both incapable of being killed by any weapons, both were learned in the science of politics and morality, and both were in counsel foremost of all intelligent men.
Supplementary Passages:
2.17.25 After 25, S ins.: *199 हते चैव मया कंसे सहंसडिभके तदा जरासंधस्य दुहिता रोदते पार्श्वतः पितुः ततो वैरं विनिर्बद्धं मया तस्य च भारत
यौ तौ मया ते कथितौ पूर्वमेव महाबलौ त्रयस्त्रयाणां लोकानां पर्याप्ता इति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: I have already told you before every thing about these two greatly powerful heroes. My opinion is that these two heroes and Jarasandha were more than a match for the three worlds.
एवमेष तदा वीर बलिभिः कुकुरान्धकैः वृष्णिभिश्च महाराज नीतिहेतोरुपेक्षितः
M. N. Dutt: O hero, O great king, it was for this reason that the powerful Akrura, Andhaka and Vrishni tribes, acting from policy, did not fight with him (Jarasandha).