एवं स राजा कथितो वसुदेवेन भारत। तस्य तद्वचनं चके शूरसेनपतिस्तदा
Thus addressed by Vasudeva, O Bharata, the chief of the Shurasenas then acted according to his words.
ततस्तस्यां सम्बभूवुः कुमाराः सूर्यवर्चसः। जाताञ्चातांस्तु तान्सर्वाञ्जघान मधुरेश्वरः
Thereafter, sons of radiant splendor were born to her, and the lord of Mathura killed each one as they were born.
अथ तस्यां समभवद्बलदेवस्तु सत्तमः। याम्यता मायया तं तु यमो राजा विशाम्पते
Then, O lord of the people, the most excellent Baladeva was conceived in her; by the power of Yama, through illusion, he was transferred.
देवक्या गर्भमतुलं रोहिण्या जठरेऽक्षिपत्। आकृष्य कर्षणात्सम्यक्सङ्कर्षणं इति स्मृतः
Devaki’s incomparable embryo was drawn forth and placed in Rohini’s womb; because he was perfectly drawn out, he is known as Sankarshana.
बलश्रेष्ठतया तस्य बलदेव इति स्मृतः। पुनस्तस्यां समभवदष्टमो मधुमूदनः
Because of his supreme strength, he is called Baladeva; then, in her again, the eighth, the slayer of Madhu, was conceived.
तस्य गर्भस्य रक्षां तु स चक्रेऽभ्यधिकं नृपः। ततः काले रक्षणार्थं वसुदेवस्य तत्वतः।। aउग्रः प्रयुक्तः कंसेन सचिवः क्रूरकर्मकृत्
The king took special measures to guard that embryo; then, in due time, for the protection of Vasudeva’s child, Kamsa appointed a fierce and cruel minister.
जातमात्रं वासुदेवमथाकृष्य पिता ततः। उपजह्रे परिक्रीतां सुतां गोपस्य कस्यचित्
As soon as Vasudeva was born, his father took him and exchanged him for the newborn daughter of a certain cowherd.
अमृष्यमाणस्तं शब्दं देवदूतस्य पार्थिवः। वासुदेवं महात्मानमर्पयामास गोकुले
Unable to endure the sound of the divine messenger, the king delivered the great-souled Vasudeva into Gokula.
वासुदेवोपि गोपेषु ववृधेऽब्जमिवाम्भसि। अज्ञायमानः कंसेन गूढोऽग्निरिव दारुषु
And Vasudeva grew up among the cowherds, like a lotus in water, unknown to Kamsa, concealed as fire in wood.
विप्रचके तदा सर्वान्बल्लवान्मधुरेश्वरः। वर्धमानो महाबाहुस्तेजोबलसमन्वितः
Then the lord of Mathura sent spies among all the cowherds, but the mighty-armed one, endowed with brilliance and strength, continued to grow.
ततस्ते क्लिश्यमानास्तु पुण्डरीकाक्षमच्युतम्। भयेन कामादपरे गणशः पर्यवारयन्
Those who suffered, longing for the lotus-eyed, infallible one, surrounded him in groups, some out of fear, others out of desire.
स तु लब्ध्वा बलं राजन्नुग्रसेनस्य संमतः। वसुदेवात्मजः सर्वैर्भ्रातृभिः सहितं पुनः
But when he gained strength, O king, and was approved by Ugrasena, the son of Vasudeva, together with all his brothers, once again—
निर्जित्य युधि भोजेन्द्रं हत्वा कंसं महाबलः। अभ्यषिञ्चत्ततो राज्य उग्रसेनं विशाम्पते
Having conquered the king of the Bhojas in battle and slain the mighty Kamsa, he then installed Ugrasena in the kingdom, O lord of the people.
ततः श्रुत्वा जरासन्धो माधवेन हतं युधि। शूरसेनाधिपं चक्रे कंसपुत्रं तदा नृप
Then, having heard that Jarasandha was slain in battle by Madhava, he made the son of Kamsa the lord of the Shurasenas at that time, O king.
ससैन्यं महदुत्थाप्य वासुदेवं तदा नृप। अभ्यषिञ्चत्सुतं तत्र सुताया जनमेजय
Raising up a great army, O king, he installed Vasudeva's son there, and Janamejaya, his own son as well.
उग्रसेनं च वृष्णींश्च महाबलसमन्वितः। स तत्र विप्रकुरुते जरासन्धः प्रतापवान्
Mighty Jarasandha, endowed with great strength, harassed Ugrasena and the Vrishnis there.
एतद्वैरं कौरवेय जरासन्धस्य माधवे। आशासितार्थे राजेन्द्र संरुरोध विनिर्जितान्
This is the enmity, O son of Kuru, between Jarasandha and Madhava; for the sake of dominion, O king, he confined those he had conquered.
पार्थिवैस्तैर्नृपतिभिर्यक्ष्यमाणः समृद्धिमान्। देवश्रेष्ठं महादेवं कृत्तिवासं त्रियम्बकम्
Surrounded by those kings and rulers, the prosperous one worshipped the supreme god, Mahadeva, Krittivasa, the three-eyed.
एतत्सर्वं यथावृत्तं कथितं भरतर्षभ। यथा तु स हतो राजा भीमसेनेन तच्छृणु
All this has been told as it happened, O bull among the Bharatas; now hear how that king was slain by Bhimasena.
ततस्तं निश्चितात्मानं युद्धाय यदुनन्दनः। उवाच वाग्मी राजानं जरासन्धमधोक्षजः
Then, as Jarasandha stood resolved for battle, the eloquent Adhokshaja, son of Yadu, spoke to the king.
त्रयाणां केन ते राजन्योद्धुमुत्सहते मनः। अस्मदन्यतमेनेह सज्जीभवतु को युधि
Which of us three, O king, does your mind wish to fight? Let one of us here be ready for battle.
एवमुक्तः स नृपतिर्युद्धं वव्रे महाद्युतिः। जरासन्धस्ततो राजा भीमसेनेन मागधः
Thus addressed, the radiant king Jarasandha, ruler of Magadha, chose to fight with Bhimasena.
धारयन्तं गदां दिव्यां बलं श्रुत्वा च निर्वृतः। अर्जुन वासुदेवं च वजर्यित्वा स मागधः
Hearing of his strength and seeing him holding a divine mace, the Magadhan, content, dismissed Arjuna and Vasudeva.
मत्वा देवं गोप इति बालोऽर्जुन इति स्म ह'। आदाय रोजनां माल्यं मङ्गल्यान्यपराणि च
Thinking Vasudeva a cowherd and Arjuna a mere boy, he took garlands of rojana flowers and other auspicious items.
धारयन्नगदान्मुख्यान्निर्वृतीर्वेदनानि च। उपतस्थे जरासन्धं युयुत्सुं वै पुरोहितः
Bearing foremost maces and implements for pleasure and pain, the priest approached Jarasandha, who was eager for battle.
कृतस्वस्त्ययनो राजा ब्राह्मणेन यशस्विना। समनह्यज्जरासन्धः क्षात्रं धर्ममनुस्मरन्
After the illustrious Brahmin performed the rites for auspiciousness, Jarasandha prepared himself, remembering the warrior's code.
अवमुच्य किरीटं स केशान्समनुमृज्य च। दतिष्ठज्जरासन्धो वेलातिग इवार्णवः
He removed his crown, smoothed his hair, and stood firm like the ocean exceeding its bounds.
उवाच मतिमान्राजा भीमं भीमपराक्रमः। भीम योत्स्ये त्वया सार्धं श्रेयसा निर्जितं वरम्
The wise king, mighty in valor, spoke to Bhima: 'Bhima, I will fight you, for you are the best among the victorious.'
एवमुक्त्वा जरासन्धो भीमसेनमरिन्दमः। प्रत्युद्ययौ महातेजाः शक्रं बल इवासुरः
Having spoken thus, Jarasandha, the subduer of foes, advanced toward Bhimasena with great energy, like an Asura toward Indra.
ततः संमन्त्र्य कृष्णेन कृतस्वस्त्ययनो बली। भीमसेनो जरासन्धमाससाद युयुत्सया
Then, after conferring with Krishna and having completed the auspicious rites, the mighty Bhimasena approached Jarasandha, eager for battle.