Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततस्तं निश्चितात्मानं युद्धाय यदुनन्दनः उवाच वाग्मी राजानं जरासंधमधोक्षजः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said The excellent speaker, the descendant of Yadu (Krishna), then thus addressed the king Jarasandha who was resolved upon fight.
त्रयाणां केन ते राजन्योद्धुं वितरते मनः अस्मदन्यतमेनेह सज्जीभवतु को युधि
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said O king, with whom amongst us three you have the mind to fight? Who amongst us should be ready for battle (with you)?
Supplementary Passages:
2.21.2 After 2, K2 ins. (cf. 242*): *241 त्वया मायाविना कृष्ण न योत्स्येऽहं कदाचन भयेन मे योजितानां यदूनां च पलायतः अर्जुनो न भवेद्योद्धा न च तुल्यबलो मम भीमः क्षणं क्षणार्धं वा क्षमः स्यादिति मे पुरः
एवमुक्तः स कृष्णेन युद्धं वव्रे महाद्युतिः जरासंधस्ततो राजन्भीमसेनेन मागधः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having been thus addressed, the king of Magadha, the greatly effulgent Jarasandha, desired to fight with Bhimasena.
Supplementary Passages:
2.21.3 After 3, D4 ins. (cf. 241*): *242 न त्वया भीरुणा योत्स्ये युधि विक्लवचेतसा मथुरां स्वपुरीं त्यक्त्वा समुद्रं शरणं गतः अयं तु वयसातुल्यो नातिसत्त्वो न मे समः अर्जुनो नो भवेद्योद्धा भीमस्तुल्यबलो मम इत्युक्त्वा भीमसेनाय प्रदाय महतीं गदाम् द्वितीयां स्वयमादाय निर्जगाम पुराद्बहिः B2-4.6 D ins. after 3 (D2, after 4; D4, after 242*): B5, after 4ab: *243 आदाय रोचनां मालां माङ्गल्यान्यपराणि च
धारयन्नगदान्मुख्यान्निर्वृतीर्वेदनानि च उपतस्थे जरासंधं युयुत्सुं वै पुरोहितः
M. N. Dutt: The priest brought the yellow pigment obtained from the cow, garlands of flowers, and other auspicious articles, and also various excellent medicines for restoring lost consciousness and for alleviating pains. He came (with these articles) to the king Jarasandha who was panting for fight.
Supplementary Passages:
2.21.4 After 4ab, B5 ins. 243*; while S ins. (in G3 line 2 damaged): *244 अर्जुनं वासुदेवं च वर्जयामास मागधः मत्वा देवं गोप इति बालोऽर्जुनमिति स्म ह
कृतस्वस्त्ययनो विद्वान्ब्राह्मणेन यशस्विना समनह्यज्जरासंधः क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः
M. N. Dutt: The king's propitiatory ceremonies with benedictions having been performed by an illustrious Brahmana, Jarasandha, remembering the duty of a Kshatriya, dressed himself for battle.
अवमुच्य किरीटं स केशान्समनुमृज्य च उदतिष्ठज्जरासंधो वेलातिग इवार्णवः
M. N. Dutt: Removing his crown and properly binding his hair, Jarasandha stood up like an ocean bursting through its shore.
उवाच मतिमान्राजा भीमं भीमपराक्रमम् भीम योत्स्ये त्वया सार्धं श्रेयसा निर्जितं वरम्
M. N. Dutt: The terribly powerful and intelligent king then thus spoke to Bhima, “O Bhima, I shall fight with you. It is better to be vanquished by a superior man."
Supplementary Passages:
2.21.7 After 7, K3 ins.: *245 क्षेत्रोदये ततः कृष्ण बालोऽयमनुजोऽर्जुनः
एवमुक्त्वा जरासंधो भीमसेनमरिंदमः प्रत्युद्ययौ महातेजाः शक्रं बलिरिवासुरः
M. N. Dutt: Having said this, the greatly effulgent Jarasandha, that chastiser of foes, rushed at Bhimasena like the Asura Bala at Shakra (Indra).
ततः संमन्त्र्य कृष्णेन कृतस्वस्त्ययनो बली भीमसेनो जरासंधमाससाद युयुत्सया
M. N. Dutt: After having consulted with Krishna and having his propitiatory ceremonies with benedictions been performed by him (Krishna), the powerful Bhimasena also advanced towards Jarasandha with the desire of fight.
ततस्तौ नरशार्दूलौ बाहुशस्त्रौ समीयतुः वीरौ परमसंहृष्टावन्योन्यजयकाङ्क्षिणौ
M. N. Dutt: Then those two best of men, those two greatly powerful heroes with their bare arms as their only weapons, being each eagerly desirous of defeating the other, cheerfully engaged in the fight.
तयोरथ भुजाघातान्निग्रहप्रग्रहात्तथा आसीत्सुभीमसंह्रादो वज्रपर्वतयोरिव
M. N. Dutt: The sound they made by the slapping of arins by the seizing of each other's necks, and by the grasping of each other's legs became so loud that if resembled the roar of thunder or the noise of a falling cliff.
उभौ परमसंहृष्टौ बलेनातिबलावुभौ अन्योन्यस्यान्तरं प्रेप्सू परस्परजयैषिणौ
M. N. Dutt: Both of them were foremost of strong and powerful men, and both took great delight in such fights. Each was eager to vanquish the other, and each was on the alert to take advantage of the slightest carelessness of the other.
Supplementary Passages:
2.21.12 After 12ab, K4 reads 16cd; while S (G4 om.) ins.: *246 अन्योन्यं तौ करतलैर्योधयामासतुर्भृशम् After 12, S (except G4) ins.: *247 शिरोभिरिव तौ मेषौ वृक्षैरिव निशाचरौ पदैरिव शुभावश्वौ तुण्डाभ्यां तित्तिराविव
तद्भीममुत्सार्य जनं युद्धमासीदुपह्वरे बलिनोः संयुगे राजन्वृत्रवासवयोरिव
M. N. Dutt: O king, the powerful Bhima and Jarasandha, like Vitra and Vasava of old, terribly fought on in the arena, driving the people at times by the motions of their hands.
प्रकर्षणाकर्षणाभ्यामभ्याकर्षविकर्षणैः आकर्षेतां तथान्योन्यं जानुभिश्चाभिजघ्नतुः
AI Translation: By means of pushing and pulling, by drawing and pushing, they drew and pushed each other, and struck each other with their knees.
ततः शब्देन महता भर्त्सयन्तौ परस्परम् पाषाणसंघातनिभैः प्रहारैरभिजघ्नतुः
AI Translation: Then, with a great noise, they rebuked each other, and struck each other with blows like a mass of rocks.
Supplementary Passages:
2.21.15 After 15, S ins.: *248 ततो भीमं जरासंधो जघानोरसि मुष्टिना भीमोऽपि तं जरासंधं वक्षस्यभिजघान ह
व्यूढोरस्कौ दीर्घभुजौ नियुद्धकुशलावुभौ बाहुभिः समसज्जेतामायसैः परिघैरिव
AI Translation: Their chests were broad and their arms long, and both were skilled in hand-to-hand combat. They struck each other with their arms, like iron clubs.
कार्त्तिकस्य तु मासस्य प्रवृत्तं प्रथमेऽहनि अनारतं दिवारात्रमविश्रान्तमवर्तत
AI Translation: In the month of Kārttika, on the first day, It continued uninterruptedly day and night, without rest.
Supplementary Passages:
2.21.17 After 17ab, S ins.: *249 तदा तद्युद्धमभवद्दिनानि दश पञ्च च After 17, S ins.: *250 घोरं विस्मापनकरमभूत्पञ्चदशेऽहनि
तद्वृत्तं तु त्रयोदश्यां समवेतं महात्मनोः चतुर्दश्यां निशायां तु निवृत्तो मागधः क्लमात्
AI Translation: But the account of their activities on the thirteenth day is included in the account of the great souls. On the fourteenth night, the Magadha king withdrew from fatigue.
Supplementary Passages:
2.21.18 After 18ab, K3 ins.: *251 गात्रं गात्रेण संपीड्य विश्राममगमद्द्वयोः वायुना ह्यमृतश्वासादाप्यायत वृकोदरः
तं राजानं तथा क्लान्तं दृष्ट्वा राजञ्जनार्दनः उवाच भीमकर्माणं भीमं संबोधयन्निव
M. N. Dutt: O king, seeing the monarch (Jarasandha) tried, Janardana (Krishna) thus spoke to Bhima of terrible deeds to encourage him.
Supplementary Passages:
2.21.19 After 19, K2.3 ins.: *252 समयुद्धे नृणां मध्यात्पाटयन्बोधयन्निव while Dn2 (!) D4 ins.: *253 शत्रोर्जन्ममृती विद्वाञ्जीवितं च जराकृतम् पार्थमाप्याययन्स्वेन तेजसाचिन्तयद्धरिः संचिन्त्यारिवधोपायं भीमस्यामोघदर्शनः दर्शयामास विटपं पाटयन्निव संज्ञया
क्लान्तः शत्रुर्न कौन्तेय लभ्यः पीडयितुं रणे पीड्यमानो हि कार्त्स्न्येन जह्याज्जीवितमात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said O son of Kunti, the foe that has become tried in the fight.cannot be pressed. If pressed at such a time, he may even die.
तस्मात्ते नैव कौन्तेय पीडनीयो नराधिपः सममेतेन युध्यस्व बाहुभ्यां भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, O son of Kunti, you should not oppress this king (now). O best of the Bharata race, fight with your arms only in such a way as your antagonist may be equal to you.
एवमुक्तः स कृष्णेन पाण्डवः परवीरहा जरासंधस्य तद्रन्ध्रं ज्ञात्वा चक्रे मतिं वधे
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having been thus addressed by Krishna, and knowing the state of Jarasandha, the Pandava (Bhima), the slayer of hostile heroes, determined to kill him.
ततस्तमजितं जेतुं जरासंधं वृकोदरः संरभ्य बलिनां मुख्यो जग्राह कुरुनन्दनः
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of all strong men, that descendant of Kuru, Vrikodara (Bhima), mustered all his strength and courage with the desire of now vanquishing the hitherto unvanquished Jarasandha.