Bhima and Jarasandha Begin to Wrestle

Verse 1 (2.24.1)

ततस्तं निश्चितात्मानं युद्धाय यदुनन्दनः । उवाच वाग्मी राजानं जरासन्धमधोक्षजः ॥

tatastaṃ niścitātmānaṃ yuddhāya yadunandanaḥ | uvāca vāgmī rājānaṃ jarāsandhamadhokṣajaḥ

Then the eloquent Adhokshaja, delight of the Yadus, spoke to King Jarasandha, whose mind was now set on battle.

Verse 2 (2.24.2)

त्रयाणां केन ते राजन्योद्धुमुत्सहते मनः । अस्मदन्यतमेनेह सज्जीभवतु को युधि ॥

trayāṇāṃ kena te rājanyoddhumutsahate manaḥ | asmadanyatameneha sajjībhavatu ko yudhi

"With which of us three, O king, does your mind wish to fight? Let whichever of us you choose make ready for battle here."

Verse 3 (2.24.3)

एवमुक्तः स नृपतिर्युद्धं वव्रे महाद्युतिः । जरासन्धस्ततो राजा भीमसेनेन मागधः ॥

evamuktaḥ sa nṛpatiryuddhaṃ vavre mahādyutiḥ | jarāsandhastato rājā bhīmasenena māgadhaḥ

Addressed thus, the brilliant King Jarasandha of Magadha chose to fight with Bhimasena.

Verse 4 (2.24.4)

धारयन्तं गदां दिव्यां बलं श्रुत्वा च निर्वृतः । अर्जुनं वासुदेवं च वर्जयित्वा स मागधः ॥

dhārayantaṃ gadāṃ divyāṃ balaṃ śrutvā ca nirvṛtaḥ | arjunaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca varjayitvā sa māgadhaḥ

Hearing of the strength of the one who bore a divine mace, the Magadhan was well content; he passed over Arjuna and Vasudeva's son,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); only the second line appears there, in the apparatus (*244 after 2.21.4). Corrected अर्जुन → अर्जुनं (misprint in Wikisource; accusative needed, as the critical edition's apparatus reads arjunaṃ). Corrected वजर्यित्वा → वर्जयित्वा (misprint in Wikisource; misplaced repha). Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and quote mark) that set off this southern passage.

Verse 5 (2.24.5)

मत्वा देवं गोप इति बालोऽर्जुन इति स्म ह । आदाय रोचनां माल्यं मङ्गल्यान्यपराणि च ॥

matvā devaṃ gopa iti bālo'rjuna iti sma ha | ādāya rocanāṃ mālyaṃ maṅgalyānyaparāṇi ca

thinking the divine one a mere cowherd and Arjuna a boy. Then, taking yellow rochana pigment, garlands and other auspicious things,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension); the first line appears in its apparatus as *244 (after 2.21.4) and the second as *243 (after 2.21.3). Corrected रोजनां → रोचनां (misprint in Wikisource; rocanā, yellow pigment, as the critical edition's apparatus reads). Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and quote mark) that set off this southern passage.

Verse 6 (2.24.6)

धारयन्नगदान्मुख्यान्निर्वृतीर्वेदनानि च । उपतस्थे जरासन्धं युयुत्सुं वै पुरोहितः ॥

dhārayannagadānmukhyānnirvṛtīrvedanāni ca | upatasthe jarāsandhaṃ yuyutsuṃ vai purohitaḥ

and carrying the chief healing herbs and remedies that restore the senses in pain and swooning, the family priest came to Jarasandha, who was eager to fight.

Verse 7 (2.24.7)

कृतस्वस्त्ययनो राजा ब्राह्मणेन यशस्विना । समनह्यज्जरासन्धः क्षात्रं धर्ममनुस्मरन् ॥

kṛtasvastyayano rājā brāhmaṇena yaśasvinā | samanahyajjarāsandhaḥ kṣātraṃ dharmamanusmaran

When the illustrious brahmin had pronounced blessings for his welfare, King Jarasandha girded himself for battle, mindful of the dharma of a kshatriya.

Verse 8 (2.24.8)

अवमुच्य किरीटं स केशान्समनुमृज्य च । उदतिष्ठज्जरासन्धो वेलातिग इवार्णवः ॥

avamucya kirīṭaṃ sa keśānsamanumṛjya ca | udatiṣṭhajjarāsandho velātiga ivārṇavaḥ

Taking off his crown and smoothing back his hair, Jarasandha rose up like an ocean overflowing its shore.

Note on the text: Corrected दतिष्ठत् → उदतिष्ठत् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped उ, the line is a syllable short; the critical edition reads udatiṣṭhaj).

Verse 9 (2.24.9)

उवाच मतिमान्राजा भीमं भीमपराक्रमः । भीम योत्स्ये त्वया सार्धं श्रेयसा निर्जितं वरम् ॥

uvāca matimānrājā bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramaḥ | bhīma yotsye tvayā sārdhaṃ śreyasā nirjitaṃ varam

Then the wise king, terrible in valour, said to Bhima: "Bhima, I will fight with you. Better to be beaten by a better man."

Verse 10 (2.24.10)

एवमुक्त्वा जरासन्धो भीमसेनमरिन्दमः । प्रत्युद्ययौ महातेजाः शक्रं बल इवासुरः ॥

evamuktvā jarāsandho bhīmasenamarindamaḥ | pratyudyayau mahātejāḥ śakraṃ bala ivāsuraḥ

Having said this, Jarasandha, tamer of foes, full of fire, went out to meet Bhimasena, as the asura Bala went out against Shakra.

Verse 11 (2.24.11)

ततः संमन्त्र्य कृष्णेन कृतस्वस्त्ययनो बली । भीमसेनो जरासन्धमाससाद युयुत्सया ॥

tataḥ saṃmantrya kṛṣṇena kṛtasvastyayano balī | bhīmaseno jarāsandhamāsasāda yuyutsayā

Then mighty Bhimasena, after taking counsel with Krishna and receiving blessings for his welfare, closed with Jarasandha, eager to fight.

Verse 12 (2.24.12)

ततस्तौ नरशार्दूलौ बाहुशस्त्रौ समीयतुः । वीरौ परमसंहृष्टावन्योन्यजयकाङ्क्षिणौ ॥

tatastau naraśārdūlau bāhuśastrau samīyatuḥ | vīrau paramasaṃhṛṣṭāvanyonyajayakāṅkṣiṇau

Then those two tigers among men, their arms their only weapons, came together, both heroes thrilled to the utmost, each longing to defeat the other.

Verse 13 (2.24.13)

करग्रहणपूर्वं तु कृत्वा पादाभिवन्दनम् । कक्षैः कक्षां विधुन्वानावास्फोटं तत्र चक्रतुः ॥

karagrahaṇapūrvaṃ tu kṛtvā pādābhivandanam | kakṣaiḥ kakṣāṃ vidhunvānāvāsphoṭaṃ tatra cakratuḥ

First they clasped hands and saluted each other's feet; then, working their armpits against each other, they slapped their arms there in challenge.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10.

Verse 14 (2.24.14)

स्कन्धे दोर्भ्यां समाहत्य निहत्य च मुहुर्मुहुः । अङ्गमङ्गैः समाश्लिष्य पुनरास्फालनं च चक्रतुः ॥

skandhe dorbhyāṃ samāhatya nihatya ca muhurmuhuḥ | aṅgamaṅgaiḥ samāśliṣya punarāsphālanaṃ ca cakratuḥ

Striking each other on the shoulders with their arms again and again, and locking limb with limb, they slapped their arms once more.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10. The second line is hypermetric (पुनरास्फालनं च चक्रतुः); the appendix reads पुनरास्फालनं विभो. Kept as printed.

Verse 15 (2.24.15)

चित्रहस्तादिकं कृत्वा कक्षाबन्धं च चक्रतुः । गलगण्डाभिघातेन सस्फुलिङ्गेन चाशनिम् ॥

citrahastādikaṃ kṛtvā kakṣābandhaṃ ca cakratuḥ | galagaṇḍābhighātena sasphuliṅgena cāśanim

They worked the "chitrahasta" and other holds and the armpit-lock, and with blows to neck and cheek they struck like a thunderbolt throwing sparks.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10. Corrected the first line's second half सस्फुलिङ्गेन चाशनिम् → कक्षाबन्धं च चक्रतुः (misprint in Wikisource: the half-line was copied from the line below; restored from the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 7, line 5).

Verse 16 (2.24.16)

बाहुपाशादिकं कृत्वा पादाहतशिरावुभौ । उरोहस्तं ततश्चक्रे पूर्णकुम्भौ प्रयुज्य तौ ॥

bāhupāśādikaṃ kṛtvā pādāhataśirāvubhau | urohastaṃ tataścakre pūrṇakumbhau prayujya tau

They applied the arm-noose and other holds, each striking the other's head with his feet; then came the chest-hold, and both used the "full jar", squeezing the head with clasped hands.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10.

Verse 17 (2.24.17)

करसम्पीडनं कृत्वा गर्जन्तौ वारणाविव । नर्दन्तौ मेघसङ्काशौ बाहुप्रहरणावुभौ ॥

karasampīḍanaṃ kṛtvā garjantau vāraṇāviva | nardantau meghasaṅkāśau bāhupraharaṇāvubhau

Crushing each other's hands, they trumpeted like elephants and thundered like rain-clouds, both of them fighting with their arms alone.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10.

Verse 18 (2.24.18)

तलेनाहन्यमानौ तु अन्योन्यं कृतवीक्षणौ । सिंहाविव सुसङ्क्रुद्धावाकृष्याकृष्य युध्यताम् ॥

talenāhanyamānau tu anyonyaṃ kṛtavīkṣaṇau | siṃhāviva susaṅkruddhāvākṛṣyākṛṣya yudhyatām

Slapping each other with open palms and glaring at each other, they fought like two furious lions, dragging and dragging each other about.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10. Corrected सुसंङ्क्रुद्धा → सुसङ्क्रुद्धा (misprint in Wikisource; doubled nasal).

Verse 19 (2.24.19)

अङ्गेनाङ्गं समापीड्य बाहुभ्यामुभयोरपि । आवृत्य बाहुभिश्चापि उदरं च प्रचक्रतुः ॥

aṅgenāṅgaṃ samāpīḍya bāhubhyāmubhayorapi | āvṛtya bāhubhiścāpi udaraṃ ca pracakratuḥ

Squeezing limb against limb with both arms, and wrapping their arms around each other, they also took holds on the belly.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10.

Verse 20 (2.24.20)

उभौ कट्यां सुपार्श्वे तु तक्षवन्तौ च शिक्षितौ । अधो हस्तं स्वकण्ठे तूदरस्योरसि चाक्षिपत् ॥

ubhau kaṭyāṃ supārśve tu takṣavantau ca śikṣitau | adho hastaṃ svakaṇṭhe tūdarasyorasi cākṣipat

Both, well trained, gripped at the waist and the flanks, drawing their bodies in; and one drove the "low hand" toward the throat, the belly and the chest.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10.

Verse 21 (2.24.21)

सर्वातिक्रान्तमर्यादं पृष्ठभङ्गं च चक्रतुः । सम्पूर्णमूर्च्छां बाहुभ्यां पूर्णकुम्भं प्रचक्रतुः ॥

sarvātikrāntamaryādaṃ pṛṣṭhabhaṅgaṃ ca cakratuḥ | sampūrṇamūrcchāṃ bāhubhyāṃ pūrṇakumbhaṃ pracakratuḥ

They performed the back-breaker, which oversteps every limit, and with their arms they applied the "full jar" that brings on a total swoon.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10.

Verse 22 (2.24.22)

तृणपीडं यथाकामं पूर्णयोगं समुष्टिकम् । एवमादीनि युद्धानि प्रकुर्वन्तौ परस्परम् ॥

tṛṇapīḍaṃ yathākāmaṃ pūrṇayogaṃ samuṣṭikam | evamādīni yuddhāni prakurvantau parasparam

The "grass-squeeze" at will, the "full yoke", and blows of the fist: these and other kinds of combat they waged on each other.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10.

Verse 23 (2.24.23)

तयोर्युद्धं ततो द्रष्टुं समेताः पुरवासिनः । ब्राह्मणा वणिजश्चैव क्षत्रियाश्च सहस्रशः ॥

tayoryuddhaṃ tato draṣṭuṃ sametāḥ puravāsinaḥ | brāhmaṇā vaṇijaścaiva kṣatriyāśca sahasraśaḥ

Then the townspeople gathered to watch their fight: brahmins, merchants and kshatriyas by the thousand,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10. Corrected पुरवासिनाः → पुरवासिनः (misprint in Wikisource; the appendix reads puravāsinaḥ).

Verse 24 (2.24.24)

शूद्राश्च नरशार्दूल स्त्रियो वृद्धाश्च सर्वशः । निरन्तरमभूत्तत्र जनौघैरभिसंवृतम् ॥

śūdrāśca naraśārdūla striyo vṛddhāśca sarvaśaḥ | nirantaramabhūttatra janaughairabhisaṃvṛtam

and shudras too, O tiger among men, and women and old people from every side. The place was packed without a gap, thronged with crowds of people.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 7, after 2.21.10.

Verse 25 (2.24.25)

तयोरथ भुजाघातान्निग्रहप्रग्रहात्तथा । आसीत्सुभीमसम्पातो वज्रपर्वतयोरिव ॥

tayoratha bhujāghātānnigrahapragrahāttathā | āsītsubhīmasampāto vajraparvatayoriva

From the blows of their arms, from their seizing and gripping, there came a terrible crash, as when a thunderbolt meets a mountain.

Verse 26 (2.24.26)

उभौ परमसंहृष्टौ बलेन बलिनां वरौ । अन्योन्यस्यान्तरं प्रेप्सू परस्परजयैषिणौ ॥

ubhau paramasaṃhṛṣṭau balena balināṃ varau | anyonyasyāntaraṃ prepsū parasparajayaiṣiṇau

Both thrilled to the utmost, both the best of the strong in strength, each sought an opening in the other, each eager to defeat the other.

Verse 27 (2.24.27)

शिरोभिरिव तौ मेषौ वृक्षैरिव निशाचरौ । पदैरिव शुभावश्वौ तुण्डाभ्यां तित्तिरी इव ॥

śirobhiriva tau meṣau vṛkṣairiva niśācarau | padairiva śubhāvaśvau tuṇḍābhyāṃ tittirī iva

They fought like two rams butting with their heads, like two night-roaming demons with trees, like two fine horses with their hooves, like two partridges with their beaks.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it only in its apparatus (*247, after 2.21.12). Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and quote mark) that set off this southern passage.

Verse 28 (2.24.28)

तद्भीममुत्सार्य जनं युद्धमासीदुपप्लवे । बलिनोः संयुगे राजन्वृत्रवासवयोरिव ॥

tadbhīmamutsārya janaṃ yuddhamāsīdupaplave | balinoḥ saṃyuge rājanvṛtravāsavayoriva

Then, the crowd having been pushed back, a terrible fight took place amid the uproar, O king, a clash of two strong men like that of Vritra and Vasava.

Verse 29 (2.24.29)

प्रकर्षणाकर्षणाभ्यामनुकर्षविकर्षणैः । आचकर्षतुरन्योन्यं जानुभिश्चावजघ्नतुः ॥

prakarṣaṇākarṣaṇābhyāmanukarṣavikarṣaṇaiḥ | ācakarṣaturanyonyaṃ jānubhiścāvajaghnatuḥ

Pulling forward and hauling back, dragging along and wrenching apart, they heaved each other about and struck each other with their knees.

Verse 30 (2.24.30)

ततः शब्देन महता भर्त्सयन्तौ परस्परम् । पाषाणसङ्घातनिभैः प्रहारैरभिजघ्नतुः ॥

tataḥ śabdena mahatā bhartsayantau parasparam | pāṣāṇasaṅghātanibhaiḥ prahārairabhijaghnatuḥ

Then, taunting each other with great shouts, they struck each other with blows like the crash of falling rocks.

Verse 31 (2.24.31)

ततो भीमं जरासन्धो जघानोरसि मुष्टिना । भीमोऽपि तं जरासन्धं वक्षस्यभिजघान ह ॥

tato bhīmaṃ jarāsandho jaghānorasi muṣṭinā | bhīmo'pi taṃ jarāsandhaṃ vakṣasyabhijaghāna ha

Then Jarasandha struck Bhima on the chest with his fist, and Bhima in turn struck Jarasandha on the breast.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it only in its apparatus (*248, after 2.21.15). Corrected भीमोषि → भीमोऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition's apparatus reads bhīmo 'pi). Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and quote mark) that set off this southern passage.

Verse 32 (2.24.32)

व्यूढोरस्कौ दीर्घभुजौ नियुद्धकुशलावुभौ । बाहुभिः समसज्जेतामायसैः परिघैरिव ॥

vyūḍhoraskau dīrghabhujau niyuddhakuśalāvubhau | bāhubhiḥ samasajjetāmāyasaiḥ parighairiva

Broad-chested and long-armed, both skilled in close combat, they locked together with arms like bars of iron.

Note on the text: Corrected समसज्जोताम् → समसज्जेताम् (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads samasajjetām).

Verse 33 (2.24.33)

कार्तिकस्य तु मासस्य प्रवृत्तं प्रथमेऽहनि । तदा तद्युद्धमभवद्दिनानि दश पञ्च च । अनाहारं दिवारात्रमविश्रान्तमवर्तत ॥

kārtikasya tu māsasya pravṛttaṃ prathame'hani | tadā tadyuddhamabhavaddināni daśa pañca ca | anāhāraṃ divārātramaviśrāntamavartata

The fight began on the first day of the month of Kartika and lasted fifteen days; it went on day and night, without food and without rest.

Note on the text: The middle line (तदा तद्युद्धमभवद्दिनानि दश पञ्च च) is not in the critical edition's text (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus has it as *249).

Verse 34 (2.24.34)

तद्वृत्तं तु त्रयोदश्यां समवेतं महात्मनोः । चतुर्दश्यां निशायां तु निवृत्तो मागधः क्लमात् ॥

tadvṛttaṃ tu trayodaśyāṃ samavetaṃ mahātmanoḥ | caturdaśyāṃ niśāyāṃ tu nivṛtto māgadhaḥ klamāt

The struggle of those two great ones, locked together, went on through the thirteenth day; on the night of the fourteenth the Magadhan drew back from exhaustion.

Verse 35 (2.24.35)

तं राजानं तथा क्लान्तं दृष्ट्वा राजञ्जनार्दनः । उवाच भीमकर्माणं भीमं सम्बोधयन्निव ॥

taṃ rājānaṃ tathā klāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā rājañjanārdanaḥ | uvāca bhīmakarmāṇaṃ bhīmaṃ sambodhayanniva

Seeing the king so worn out, O king, Janardana spoke to Bhima of terrible deeds, as though to rouse him.

Verse 36 (2.24.36)

क्लान्तः शत्रुर्हि कौन्तेय शक्यः पीडयितुं रणे । पीड्यमानो हि कार्त्स्न्येन जह्याज्जीवितमात्मनः ॥

klāntaḥ śatrurhi kaunteya śakyaḥ pīḍayituṃ raṇe | pīḍyamāno hi kārtsnyena jahyājjīvitamātmanaḥ

"An exhausted enemy, son of Kunti, can be pressed hard in battle; and if he is pressed to the full, he may give up his life."

Verse 37 (2.24.37)

तस्मात्तेऽद्यैव कौन्तेय पीडनीयो जनाधिपः । सममेतेन युध्यस्व बाहुभ्यां भरतर्षभ ॥

tasmātte'dyaiva kaunteya pīḍanīyo janādhipaḥ | samametena yudhyasva bāhubhyāṃ bharatarṣabha

"So press this king hard today, son of Kunti, without delay. Fight him with your arms, matching him, bull among the Bharatas."

Verse 38 (2.24.38)

एवमुक्तः स कृष्णेन पाण्डवः परवीरहा । जरासन्धस्य तद्रन्ध्रं ज्ञात्वा चक्रे मतिं वधे ॥

evamuktaḥ sa kṛṣṇena pāṇḍavaḥ paravīrahā | jarāsandhasya tadrandhraṃ jñātvā cakre matiṃ vadhe

Addressed thus by Krishna, the Pandava, slayer of enemy heroes, understood where Jarasandha was weak and set his mind on killing him.

Note on the text: Separated एवमुक्तःस → एवमुक्तः स (spacing misprint in Wikisource). Corrected जरासन्दस्य → जरासन्धस्य (misprint in Wikisource).

Verse 39 (2.24.39)

ततस्तमजितं जेतुं जरासन्धं वृकोदरः । संरम्भाद्बलिनां श्रेष्ठो जग्राह कुरुनन्दनः ॥

tatastamajitaṃ jetuṃ jarāsandhaṃ vṛkodaraḥ | saṃrambhādbalināṃ śreṣṭho jagrāha kurunandanaḥ

Then Vrikodara, joy of the Kurus and best of the strong, seized the unconquered Jarasandha in fury, to conquer him.

Note on the text: Corrected जरासन्दं → जरासन्धं (misprint in Wikisource).