Vaishampayana said: -
1. Thereupon Bhimsena, his mind firmly set on the desire of killing Jarasandha, thus spoke to the descendant of Yadu, Krishna, “O Krishna, O best of the Yadu race, this wretch is still before me with girded loins and with sufficient strength. He should not be excused by me.”
3-4. Having been thus addressed, Krishna, that best of men, with the desire of seeing soon an end of Jarasandha, thus replied to Vrikodara (Bhima), “O Bhima, the strength that you have derived from the celestials, the might that you have obtained from Maruta, display them today towards Jarasandha.”
5. Having been thus addressed, that chastiser of foes, that greatly strong (hero), Bhima, raised up the strong Jarasandha and whirled him on high.
6. O best of the Bharata race, having thus whirled him high for one hundred times, he (Bhima) pressed his knee against his (Jarasandha’s) backbone and broke his body into two parts. (Having thus killed him), he roared aloud.
7. The roar of the Pandava (Bhima), mingled with that of Jarasandha while he was being broken by Bhima’s knee, raised such a loud roar that it struck fear into the heart of every creature.
8. The people of Magadha became dumb with fear; and even many women were prematurely delivered by the roars of Bhima and Jarasandha.
9. Hearing the roars of Bhima, the people of Magadha thought that either Himalayas were coming down or the earth is being rent asunder.
10. The chastiser of foes (Krishna) left at night the dead body of the king at the palace gate, as if he was but asleep. They then came out (of the palace).
11. Krishna made ready the chariot of Jarasandha with the excellent standard and he then placed on it the two brothers (Bhima and Aryuna). He then liberated the friends (the captive kings).
12. Having been freed from their great fear, those monarchs, those kings, those possessors of gems came to Krishna and presented him with many gems and jewels.
13. Unwounded, (now) with (many) weapons, vanquishing the foe, he (Krishna), riding on the celestials car (of Jarasandha) came out with the kings from the city of Girivraja.
14. He, who wielded the bow with both hands, who was invincible to all kings, and who was exceedingly handsome and well skilled in killing the enemy, came out with that possessors of great strength Bhima, and Krishna drove the car.
15. That celestials car, invincible to all warriors, ridden by the heroes, Bhima and Aryuna, and driven by Krishna, looked exceedingly beautiful.
16. It was in this very car that Indra and Vishnu fought in the battle of old (with the Asuras) in which Taraka (the wife of Brihaspati) was cause, and the result of which was a great slaughter. Riding on that very car, Krishna now came out.
17. It possessed the splendour of heated gold, it was adorned with rows of jingling bells, it had wheels that made the clatter like the roars of the clouds, it was ever victorious in battle and it always killed the foes.
18. Riding on it, Shakra (Indra) killed ninety-nine Danavas of old. Those best of men (Krishna & c.) were exceedingly pleased on obtaining this car.
19. Seeing the long-armed Krishna on the chariot with the two brothers, (Bhima and Aryuna), the people of Magadha became very much astonished.
20. O descendant of Bharata, that car, with which were yoked celestials horses with the speed of the wind and which was driven by Krishna, looked exceedingly beautiful.
21. On this best of cars there was a flag-staff without being visibly attached thereto. It was the product of celestials art. That beautiful flat staff could be seen from a distance of a Yojana, and it had the splendour of the rainbow.
22When coming out, Krishna thought of Garuda. As soon as thought of, he came there like a large tree worshipped by all.
23. The eater of snakes, Garuda of immense weight of body, sat on that excellent car along with innumerable other open-mouthed and fearfully roaring creatures on its flagstaff.
24. Thereupon that best of cars became more dazzling than before; and like the sun in midday, surrounded by thousand rays, it became incapable of being looked at by any living creature.
25. O king, such was that celestialsly made and the best flagstaff that it never struck against a tree. The weapons could not any way injure it, although it was visible to the human eye.
26. That best of men, Achyuta (Krishna), riding with the two Pandava (Bhima and Aryuna) on that celestials car, the wheels of which made a clatter like the roars of the clouds, came out (of Giribraja).
27. It (the car) was obtained by the king Vasu from Vasava (Indra), From Vasu it was obtained by Brihadratha; from Brihadratha it was in due course obtained by the king (Jarasandha), the son of Brihadratha.
28. The long armed, the lotus-eyed and the greatly famous (Krishna), coming out (of Girivraja), stopped on a level plain outside the city.
29. O king, all the citizens with the Brahmans at their head then hastened there to adore him according to the due rites of the ordinance.
30. The kings, who had been liberated from their confinement, worshipped the slayer of Madhu; and they thus spoke to him eulogistic words.
31-32. O mighty armed (hero), O son of Devaki, such an act of virtue is not (at all) wonderful in you. Assisted as you are by the prowess of Bhima and Aryuna, you have to-day rescued the kings who sank in the fearful mire of sorrow in the lake of Jarasandha.
33. O Vishnu, O descendant of Yadu, we were languishing in the fearful hill-fort (of Jaransandha); from our good fortune alone, you have rescued us and earned a great renown.
34. O best of men, we bow to you. command us what we shall do. However difficult it may be to carry out your command, know, it is already carried out by the kings (ourselves)”.
35. Giving them every assurance, thus replied to them Hrishikesha (Krishna), “Yudhisthira is desirous of performing the Rajashuya (sacrifice).
36. That king, ever devoted to virtue, is solicitous to acquire the imperial dignity. Knowing this from me, help him in his attempt.”
37. O best of kings, thereupon all those monarchs, saying “Be it so, “accepted with joyous heart all that Krishna said.
38. The monarchs made presents of jewels to the hero of Dasarha race (Krishna). Govinda (Krishna), out of kindness towards them, only took a portion of those presents.
39. The son of Jarasandha, the high-minded Sahadeva, came out there with his relatives and his ministers, his priest being at the head of the procession.
40. Sahadeva bowed low before the god among men, Vasudeva; and presenting him many gems and jewels, he worshipped him.
41. That best of men (Krishna) gave every assurance to that very much frightened prince and accepted his very valuable presents.
42-43. He (Krishna) gladly installed there the son of Jarasandha; and thus being installed on the throne of Magadha by those exalted men and having been obtained the friendship of Krishna and being treated with respect and kindness by the two sons of Pritha, the mighty armed and the illustrious son of Jarasandha (Sahadeva) entered the city of the son of Brihadratha (Jarasandha).
44. That best of men (Krishna), accompanied by the sons of Pritha and enriched with much wealth and laden with numerous jewels, went away (from Girivraja).
45. Achyuta (Krishna), accompanied by the two Pandavas (Bhima and Aryuna), arrived at Indraprastha and went to Yudhisthira. He joyfully addressed the king and said,
46. “O best of kings, the powerful Jarasandha has been killed by Bhima from good fortune. The kings, confined at Girivraja, have all been liberated.
47. O descendant of Bharata, from good fortune, these two Bhima and Dhananjaya (Aryuna), are well. They have arrived at their own city unwounded”.
48. Then Yudhisthira worshipped Krishna as he deserved; and he embrace Bhima and Aryuna in joy.
49. Having obtained victory through the agency of his brothers by the death of Jarasandha, Ajatashatru (Yudhisthira) passed his time with his brothers in great merriment.
50. The Pandava (Yudhisthira) with his brothers came to the kings (who had come to Indraprastha). Entertaining and worshipping them each according to his age, he sent them away.
51. Having been, commanded by Yudhisthira, those kings with joyful hearts and without any further loss of time started on their excellent vehicles for their own respective kingdoms.
52. O king, thus did that best of men, the greatly intelligent Janardana (Krishna) cause his foe Jarasandha to be killed through the instrumentality of the Pandavas.
53. O descendant of Bharata, having caused the death of Jarasandha by policy, that chastiser of foes, (Krishna) took leave of Yudhisthira, Pritha, (Kunti), Krishna (Draupadi).
54. Suvadra, Bhimasena, Falguni (Aryuna), and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva). Taking leave of Dhaumya, he started for his own city (Dwarka).
55. On that celestialsly- made and the best of cars, which possessed the speed of mind, and which was given to him by Dharmaraja (Yudhisthira), and which filled the ten points of the horizon with the rattle of his wheels.
56. O best of the Bharata race, when Krishna was about to start, the Pandavas with Yudhisthira at their head walked round that best of men (Krishna) who was never fatigued with exertion.
57. O descendant of Bharata, having acquired that great victory and having also dispelled the fears of the kings, when the illustrious Krishna, the son of Devaki went away.
58. That feat of his increased the fame of the Pandavas. O descendant of Bharata, O king, the Pandavas (thus) increased the great happiness of Draupadi.
59. Whatever is consistent with Dharma. Artha and Kama continued at that time to be properly performed by king Yudhisthira in the exercise of his duties in protecting his subjects.
Thus ends the twenty-fourth chapter, the death of Jarasandha, in the Jarasandhabadha of the Sabha Parva.