Bhīma, with tremendous strength and determination, placed one foot upon Jarāsandha’s leg, seized the other with his powerful arms, and tore him apart from the base, just as a mighty elephant splits a thick branch. The people witnessed the gruesome sight: Jarāsandha’s body was split into two distinct parts—one half bore a single leg, thigh, testicle, hip, back, breast, and shoulder; the other had only one arm, eye, brow, and ear. A great cry arose among the assembled people as the king of Magadha fell, and they gathered around Bhīma, embracing him and honoring him along with the victorious and infallible heroes. Then, the Lord—creator of all beings, master of himself—anointed Sahadeva, Jarāsandha’s son, as king of the Magadhas, and released the captive kings whom Jarāsandha had imprisoned. Thus concluded the seventy-second chapter, “The Slaying of Jarāsandha,” in the second half of the Tenth Book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, the scripture revered by the paramahaṃsas. Śuka continued: Sixteen thousand eight hundred kings, defeated in battle and imprisoned, emerged from the mountain cave where they had been held. Their bodies were dirty, clad in soiled garments, and they were emaciated from hunger, their faces dried and tormented by long confinement. Before them stood the dark-complexioned Lord, dressed in radiant yellow silk. They gazed upon him, marked with the auspicious Śrīvatsa, four-armed, his lotus-like reddish eyes shining, his face beautiful and gracious, adorned with makara-shaped earrings. He held a lotus, mace, conch, and discus in his hands and was crowned and adorned with necklaces, bracelets, a girdle, and armlets. His neck shone with the finest jewels and was garlanded with forest flowers. The kings drank in his divine form with their eyes, as if tasting him with their tongues, seemed to smell him with their noses, and longed to embrace him with their arms. Freed from sin, they bowed their heads at Hari’s feet. Delighted by the sight of Krishna, their fatigue and suffering vanished. With palms joined, the kings praised Hṛṣīkeśa, saying: “Salutations to you, Lord of gods, imperishable remover of distress for those who seek refuge! We have sought your shelter, O Krishna—protect us, 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 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 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 freed kings, 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. Sustain the threads of your people, experience 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 ceremonial worship performed by Sahadeva, with garments, ornaments, garlands, and ointments fit for kings. After bathing and adorning them, he fed them with excellent food, provided them with various enjoyments, and with betel and other things suitable for kings. Honored by Mukunda, the kings, with shining earrings, freed from distress, shone like planets released from the rainy season. Krishna had their chariots, adorned with jewels and gold and yoked with fine horses, prepared. Pleased with kind words, he 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, they diligently carried out their duties. After Jarāsandha was slain by Bhimasena, Krishna, honored by Sahadeva and accompanied by the two sons of Pritha, departed. They reached Khandavaprastha, and the victorious heroes sounded their conchshells, delighting their friends and bringing distress to their enemies. Hearing this, the residents of Indraprastha became joyful at heart, believing that the Magadha king was subdued and their own king’s desire fulfilled. Then Bhima, Arjuna, and Janardana, after offering respects to the king, reported to him all that they had accomplished. Upon hearing their words, King Yudhishthira, understanding Krishna’s compassion, shed tears of joy. Overcome with love, he was unable to speak a word.