Once, O King, Bhīma—Vṛkodara—confided in his cousin, Mādhava, saying, “O Mādhava, I am not able to defeat Jarāsandha in battle.” Hearing this, Hari, who knows the secrets of birth and death and understood that Jarāsandha’s life was sustained by the joining of his body by Jara, infused Pārtha with his own energy and began to contemplate a way to overcome their formidable foe. After carefully considering a means to slay Jarāsandha, the all-seeing Lord gave Bhīma a subtle sign: he tore a branch apart, demonstrating the method by which the enemy could be vanquished. Bhīma, mighty and foremost among fighters, understood the gesture. Seizing Jarāsandha by the feet, he hurled him to the ground. Placing one foot upon Jarāsandha’s leg and grasping the other with his arms, Bhīma tore him from the anus, as a powerful elephant splits apart a branch. All those present witnessed the body of Jarāsandha split into two distinct parts: one with a single leg, thigh, testicle, hip, back, breast, and shoulder; the other with a single arm, eye, brow, and ear. A great cry arose as the king of Magadha was slain, and the people embraced and honored Bhīma, along with the victorious and infallible ones. The Lord, creator of beings and master of himself, then anointed Sahadeva, Jarāsandha’s son, as king of the Magadhas. He also released the many kings whom Jarāsandha had imprisoned. Thus concludes the seventy-second chapter, entitled “The Slaying of Jarāsandha,” in the second half of the Tenth Book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture for the paramahaṃsas. Śuka continued: Sixteen thousand eight hundred kings, who had been defeated in battle and imprisoned, now emerged from the mountain cave. They were dirty and clad in soiled garments, emaciated by hunger, their faces dried up, tormented by their long confinement. Before them stood the dark-complexioned one, dressed in yellow silk. They saw him adorned with the mark of Śrīvatsa, four-armed, with lotus-like reddish eyes, a beautiful and gracious face, and shining makara-shaped earrings. He held a lotus, mace, conch, and discus, and was adorned with a crown, necklace, bracelets, a girdle, and armlets. His neck gleamed with the finest jewels and was garlanded with forest flowers. The kings drank in the sight of him with their eyes, as if tasting him with their tongues; they seemed to smell him with their noses and embrace him with their arms. Freed from sin, they bowed their heads at Hari’s feet. Delighted by the sight of Kṛṣṇa, all fatigue from captivity vanished. With joined palms, the kings praised Hṛṣīkeśa, saying, “Salutations to you, Lord of gods, imperishable remover of the distress of those who take refuge! We have sought your shelter, O Kṛṣṇa—protect us, who are weary of this terrible cycle of birth and death.” “O Madhusūdana, we do not blame you for the loss of our kingdoms at the hands of the Magadhan. O Lord, for us kings, your favor is the true cause. A king, swollen with pride from sovereignty and opulence, does not attain true welfare; deluded by your māyā, he considers impermanent riches to be unshakable. Just as children imagine water in a mirage, so too do those lacking discernment mistake illusory things for reality. Formerly, blinded by the intoxication of prosperity, we, driven by the desire to conquer, competed with one another, mercilessly destroying our own subjects, O Lord, recklessly disregarding death before us. Those very riches, O Krishna, have been swept away by your profound and irresistible power; by time, by your form, and by your compassion, our pride is destroyed, and we remember your feet. Therefore, we no longer desire a kingdom, which is like a mirage, with a body that is ever subject to decay and pain. O Lord, we long to worship you, for the fruit of such acts, both in this life and after, is pleasing to the ear. Instruct us in the means by which, even as we wander in this world, our remembrance of your lotus feet may never cease. Obeisance again and again to Krishna, son of Vasudeva, to Hari, the Supreme Self, to Govinda, destroyer of the distress of those who take refuge in him.” Śuka said: Thus praised by the kings, freed from their bondage, the compassionate Lord, shelter of all, addressed them with gentle words. The Blessed Lord said, “From this day forth, O kings, firm devotion to me, the Self, the Lord of all, will arise in you, as you have earnestly desired. By good fortune, O kings, you have resolved rightly and spoken truthfully; behold how pride in wealth and power drives men mad. Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Vena, Rāvaṇa, Naraka, and others—lords of gods, demons, and men—were cast down from their positions by pride in prosperity. Knowing this, that all arising from body and so on is perishable, worship me through sacrifices, and protect your subjects with righteousness. Sustaining the threads of your people, experiencing happiness and sorrow, birth and death as they come, serve what comes your way, and move about with your minds fixed on me. Detached from body and so forth, delighting in the Self, firm in your vows, fixing your minds wholly on me, you shall attain Brahman at the end.” Śuka continued: Having thus instructed the kings, Krishna, Lord of the world, assigned attendants to them for the bathing ceremony of their wives. He had the ceremonial worship performed by Sahadeva, with garments, ornaments, garlands, and ointments fit for kings. After bathing and adorning them, Krishna fed them with excellent food, provided them with various enjoyments, and with betel and other things suitable for kings. Honored by Mukunda, the kings, now adorned with shining earrings and freed from distress, shone like planets released from the rainy season. He had chariots, adorned with jewels and gold and yoked with fine horses, made ready, and, pleasing them with kind words, sent them back to their own lands. Thus, rescued from hardship by the greatly noble Krishna, the kings departed, meditating on him and the deeds of the Lord of the universe. The people marveled at the actions of the Supreme Person, and, as the Lord directed, diligently carried out their duties. After Jarāsandha was slain by Bhīmasena, Krishna, honored by Sahadeva and accompanied by the two sons of Pritha, departed.