Krishna said: -
1. O Partha, behold the great city of Magadha standing in all its beauty. It is full of cattle and other beasts of burden; its stock of water is inexhaustive; it is adorned with fine mansions; and it is (entirely) free from all dangers.
2. The five large hills, namely Vaihara, Varaha, Vrishabha, Rishigiri and the beautiful fifth hill Chaityaka.
3. These five hills, all with high peaks and with tall trees with cool shades, all being connected with one another, seem jointly to protect the city of Girivraja.
4. They are concealed by the forest of charming and fragrant Lodhra trees with their branches covered with flowers.
5. This was the place where the illustrious Gotama of the rigid vows begot on the daughter of Ushinara, a Sudra woman Kakshivana and other famous sons.
6. The race sprung from such a man as Goutama worships the sway of ordinary human race, it shows the great kindness of Goutama towards kings.
7. O Aryuna, it was here that in olden times the powerful kings of Anga, Vanga and other countries came to the hermitage of Goutama and lives in joy and happiness.
8. Partha, behold the charming forest of Pipalas and beautiful Lodhras standing near the place where Goutama lived.
9. Here were the abodes of the chastisers of foes, the Nagas, Arbuda, Chakrapani and Swastika, and also that of the excellent Naga, called Mani.
10. Manu himself had made the country of the Magadhas to be free from draught Kaushika and Maniman also have favoured and blessed this country.
11. Having secured such a charming and impregnable city, Jarasandha does not fear to accomplish all his unrivalled purposes. We shall, however, today humble his pride by attacking him.
12. Having said this, those brothers of matchless effulgence the Varshneya (Krishna) and the two Pandavas (Bhima and Aryuna) entered the city of Magadha.
13. Then they went towards the impregnable city of Girivraja, full of cheerful and well-fed inhabitants belonging to all the four orders of men. The city was ever enlivened with perennial festivities.
14-15. Going to the gate of the city (they did not enter through it); the brothers pierced the heart of the high Chaityaka (hill) which was ever worshipped by there of Brihadratha and by the citizens (of Girivraja), the hill that delighted the hearts of all the Magadhas.
16-19. Here (on this Chaityaka hill) Brihadratha had killed a cannibal, called Rishava,. Having killed the monster, he caused three drums to be made of his skin. He then kept these drums in his city. They were such that if once played upon their sound lasted for full one month. The brothers (Krishna & c.) broke down the Chaityaka, ever charming to all the people, at the place where these drums, covered with celestials flowers, sent forth their continuous sound. Desirous as they were to kill Jarasandha, they seemed to place their feet on the head of their foe by their this act.
20-21. Attacking with their powerful arms that immovable, huge, high, old and famous peak, ever worshipped with perfumes and garlands, those heroes broke it down. They then with joyful hearts entered the city.
22. At that very time the Veda-knowing Brahmanas inhabiting the city saw many evil omens which they duly reported to Jarasandha.
23. The priest made the king mount on elephant; and he then sanctified him an by whirling lighted woods about him. The greatly powerful king Jarasandha commenced a fasting with proper vows to wards off these evils.
24. O descendant of Bharata, they (the brothers) in the meantime, unarmed and with their bare arms as their only weapons, entered the city in the guise of Snataka Brahmanas in order to fight with Jarasandha.
25. They saw many beautiful shops, full of various eataoles and garlands, every shop swelling with every article and every wealth that man can ever desire.
26. Seeing the great wealth of those shops, those best of men, Krishna, Bhima and Dhananjaya (Aryuna), proceeded along the public streets. Those greatly powerful heroes snatched garlands from the flower vendors.
27-29. Having attired in robes of various colours and adorned with garlands and earrings, the heroes entered the palace of the greatly intelligent Jarasandha as Himalayan lions longingly look at the pen of cattle. The arms of those warriors, smeared sandal and aloe paste, looked like the trunks of Sala trees, O great king, when the people of Magadha saw those heroes with necks and broad as those of Sala trees and with wide chests, they began to be very much astonished.
30. Passing through three rooms crowded with men those best of men, with pride and cheerfulness came to the king.
31-32. Jarasandha rose up in haste saying “Welcome to you”. He received his visitors with proper ceremonies, with water to wash their feet, with honey, with Arghya, with gift of kine and with the other forms of respect. O Janamejaya, both Partha and Bhima remained silent.
33. Amongst them the greatly intelligent Krishna thus spoke to him, “O king of kings, these two are observing a vow. They will not therefore speak.
34. They will remain silent till midnight. After that hour they will talk with you.” The king quartered them in the sacrificial apartments, and he then went to his own royal apartments.
35-36. O king, at midnight he(Jarasandha) came to the place where the Brahmanas (Krishna & c.) were. O descendant of Bharata, that ever victorious king observed the vow which was known all over the earth that as soon as he should hear of the arrival of any Snataka Brahmanas in his palace-even if it be midnight, he would immediately come out and grant them an interview.
37. Seeing the strange attire (of his guests), that best of kings, Jarasandha, became, very much astonished, but he waited upon them with all respect.
38. O best of the Bharata race, seeing the king Jarasandha, those best of men, those slayers of foes (Krishna etc.) thus spoke to him,
39. “O king, let salvation be attained by you without any difficulty.” And O best of king, having said this to the king, they stood looking at one another.
40. O king of kings, then Jarasandha said to the Pandavas (Bhima and Aryuna) and the Yadava (Krishna), who were all disguised as Brahmanas, “Take your seat.”
41. Blazing forth in their own beauty like the three fires of a great sacrifice, these three best of men then took their seats.
42-43. O descendant of Kuru, the firmly truthful king Jarasandha spoke to them thus, “It is well- known to me that nowhere in the whole world the Brahmanas engaged in observing the Snataka vows ever adorn themselves with garlands or with fragrant paste. Who are you then, thus adorned with flowers and with hands that bear the marks of the bowstring?
44. Attired in ascetic robes and adorned unseasonably with flowers and fragrant paste, you give me to understand that you are Brahmanas, though you bear all the signs of the Kshatryas. Tell me truly who you are. Truth adorns (even) kings.
45. Breaking down the peak of the Chaityaka hill, why in disguise have you entered (the city) by the other ways than the gates without fearing the royal anger?
46. The prowess of a Brahmana rests mainly in his speech. Your action does not suit the order you profess to belong. Tell me what is your object today.
47. Though you have arrived by such an improper way, why do you not accept the worship, I offer to you? What is your object in coming to me?
48. Having been thus addressed, the high minded Krishna, well-skilled in speech, thus replied to him in a calm and grave voice.
Krishna said: -
49. O king, know us for Snataka Brahmanas. O king of men, O monarch, Brahmanas, Kshatryas and Vaisyas are all competent to observe the Snataka vow.
50. This vow has both special and general rules. A Kshatrya who observes this vow with special rules always obtains (great) prosperity.
51. Persons who adorn themselves with flowers always gain prosperity, therefore we have adorned ourselves with flowers. The Kshatryas are powerful in their prowess of arms and in the prowess of speech. O son of Brihadratha it is therefore the speeches of the Kshatryas are never audacious.
52. O king,, the creator has placed his own energy in the arms of the Kshatrya. If you desire to see it, you will certainly see it today.
53. The intelligent men enter the house of the enemy through a way which is not the general gate; but in the house of a friend they enter by the right gate. This is the rule of the ordinance.
54. O king, know that this is our eternal vow that having entered the house of the enemy for the purpose of accomplishing an object, we do not accept the worship offered by him.
Thus ends the twenty-first chapter, the coloquy between Jarasandha and Krishna, in the Jarasandhabadha of the Sabha Parva.