In the previous episode, we had witnessed Yudishtra and Co. having a final consultation with Bhagawan Krishna on whether to proceed with the “Raaja-Suya-Yaaga” or not. As we’ve witnessed earlier, the “Raaja-Suya-Yaaga” is like “Pre-qualifier” for a king to be accepted by the world as a great and a righteous king, and hence, performing it was somehow like a mandatory thing for the king to prove his credibility to the world. Although Yudishtra had all the qualities in him for being successful in this pursuit, he had his own self-doubts as to whether he would be able to successfully perform the Yaaga or not. He had extensive consultations with domain experts (Great Maharishis), and all of them opined that he has to go ahead with the Yaaga. However, Yudishtra wasn’t very convinced as yet. He invited Bhagawan Krishna once again to Indraprastha and wanted to ask His opinion on the same. Accordingly, Bhagawan Krishna was more than ready to be back at Indraprastha with a huge welcome, and Arjuna was overwhelmed to see his Bhagawan in front of his eyes again! As Yudishtra asks Bhagawan Krishna’s opinion thus, He replies back saying that Yudishtra has to proceed ahead with the Yaaga, but…. He stopped there, to the utter amazement of the Paandava brothers. Yudishtra was eager to know why Bhagawan Krishna stopped right there! Is there any problem? Or is there some hurdle that he needs to overcome before doing the Yaaga? Or, is he not qualified enough? So many questions were running in Yudishtra’s mind as he was awaiting Bhaagwan Krishna’s next word!
As Bhagawan Krishna continues thus, He says, “Oh Yudishtra! Do you know why I stopped in the middle? It was not because you aren’t fit enough for it. Of course, you are! You are one of the very few “Kshatrya princes” who were left behind by Parashurama without killing! You are born as part of the auspicious “Chandra Vamsa”. Hence, you’ve got all the qualifications to go for the “Raaja-Suya-Yaga”! However, there’s something that you must understand – There is a kingdom by name “Magadha Desha”, and its king is none other than Jaraasandha. This King Jaraasandha is a wicked person and is a Raakshasa by nature. With his enormous power and valor, he is in the process of destroying anyone who wants to follow the path of “Dharma”. He is in a killing-spree of sages in the forest. He is not allowing any auspicious things to happen anywhere in this world. Nobody has the power to take him on, and this has been his huge plus point! Because of this, Jaraasandha has become virtually unstoppable in this world! Hence, only if you are able to take him on and defeat him, will you be able to proceed with the “Raaja-Suya-Yaaga”.
Bhagawan Krishna continues further thus, “Oh Yudishtra! Please do not underestimate Jaraasandha’s strength and power. He is extremely powerful and moreover, he has obtained certain unique boons as well. That also adds to his prowess. Also, there are two assistants to Jaraasandha namely, Hamsa and Dimbaka! It is only with these two people, Jaraasandha is doing whatever “Adharma” he does! Hence, if you’ve to win over Jaraasandha, you’ve to first win over these two!” As Yudishtra hears all this from Bhagawan Krishna, he replies to Him thus, “Oh Bhagawan! If that is the case, why don’t you take him down single handedly? Is there something that you cannot achieve? Why should Jaraasandha be let off with so much prowess and “Adharma”? Why don’t you step in and kill him then and there? Of course, you are the best person to know the secrets of how Jaraasandha could be taken down, isn’t it? You’ve killed various powerful Raakshasas earlier as well, isn’t it? Hence, why can’t you do this too?”
As Yudishtra asks thus, Bhagawan Krishna laughs within Himself and replies thus, “Oh Yudishtra! Do you know something? This Jaraasandha was the sole reason for me to leave Mathura city overnight and make my way to Dwaraka! This fellow tried to kill me not once, but eighteen times! Unable to bare his atrocities, I had to leave Mathura without the knowledge of anyone! You might know that when I was ten years old, I had killed my uncle by name “Kamsa”! This Kamsa was the king of Mathura at that time and he had two wives, who were Jaraasandha’s daughters. Unable to bare the separation from their husband, these two daughters went and complained to Jaraasandha and with this, he waged battle after battle with me! Everytime he would get defeated and he would run away from that place! In this way, Jaraasandha has battled with me seventeen times! Hence, this has become a never-ending story! Hence, Yudishtra, when Jaraasandha comes to fight for the eighteenth time, you people have to take him on! I’m fed up fighting with him anymore!”
Hearing thus from Bhagawan Krishna, Yudishtra was surprised! How can a person in this world remain undefeated by Bhagawan Krishna Himself not once but seventeen times? This shows how powerful Jaraasandha is, isn’t it? Again, many thoughts were running in Yudishtra’s mind – “If Bhagawan Krishna Himself is unable to kill Jaraasandha, will I be able to? What if I get killed by Jaraasandha in the battle?” So for today, let us understand until this point and in the next episode, we shall witness how Bhagawan Krishna is going to motivate the Paandavas to take on Jaraasandha! An important discussion awaits! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 