p316 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p317w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p318
----- bhagap317.html
ly between his sons and nephews, as his attachment for his sons was
too great.
Akrfjra returned to Mathura and in formed Rama and Krishna
of all that he had heard.
JARA SANDHA, YAVANA AND DVARAKA.
SKANDHA X. CHAP. 50.
Kansa had two wives, Asti and Prapti. They were the daugh-
ters of Jarasandha, king of Magadha (modern Bihar). The latter
liing learned from his daughters the fate of Kansa and became~high-
ly enraged. He collected an army of thirteen Akshauhinis, (one
Akshauhini consisting of 21,870 chariots, as many elephants, 65,610
horses, and 1,09,350 foot), and he besieged Mathura on all sides.
Krishna thought for a moment how he could best serve the
object of his Avatarship. He found in the army before him a collec-
tion of the forces that oppressed the Earth. He thought of killing
the army and of saving Jarasandha, who might be instrumental in
raising such large armies over and over again. " For it is to remove
the weight now oppressing the Earth that I have incarnated. I have
to protect the good people and kill those that are not so." Two
chariots came from the Heavens fully equipped. Rama and Krishna
drove out on those chariots They killed the whole army in no time.
Rama fell upon Jarasandha and well-nigh killed him when Krishna
caused him to be set free. Jarasandha, in his disgrace, thought of
practising asceticism but he was kept off by other kings who con-
soled him with words of worldly wisdom.
The king of Magadha was however not to be easily put down.
Seventeen times he led his army to an attack on Mathura, and each
time he lost his entire army at the hands of Krishna and his follow-
ers. Before the fight commenced for the eighteenth time, Kala
Yavana appeared on the field of battle with three crores of Mlechha
troops. Krishna held counsel with Rama as to the course to be
adopted. The brothers might engage with Kala Yavana in fight,
but Jarasandha would make havoc in the meantime amongst their
clansmen at Mathura. So Krishna planned the erection of a fort,
within the seas, where he might harbour his clansmen in safety. So
the fort was built extending over twelve Yajanas. It was laid out
with a town of exquisite skill and workmanship. High buildings with
golden towers, extensive roads, large gardens enhanced the beauty
[[317]]
p316 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p317w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p318
v?