Chapter 11

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Hear, O Sanjaya, the celestial feats of Vasudeva,feats that Govinda achieved and the like of which no other person hathever been able to achieve. Whilst being brought up, O Sanjaya, in thefamily of the cowherd (Nanda), that high-souled one, while yet a boy,made the might of his arms known to the three worlds. Even then he slewHayaraja, living in the woods (on the shores) of the Yamuna, who wasequal to (the celestial steed) Uchchaisravas in strength and the winditself in speed.[18] In childhood, he also slew with his two bare arms,the Danava, in the form of a bull, of terrible deeds, and risen likeDeath himself unto all the kine. Of eyes like the lotus petals, he alsoslew the mighty Asuras named Pralamva, and Naraka, and Jambha, and Pitha,as also Mura, that terror of the celestials. And so also Kansa of mightyenergy, who was, besides, protected by Jarasandha, was, with all hisfollowers, slain in battle by Krishna aided by his prowess alone.[19]With Valadeva as his second, that slayer of foes, viz., Krishna, consumedin battle, with all his troops, the king of the Surasenas, viz., Sunaman,of great activity and prowess in battle, the lord of a full Akshauhini,and the valiant second brother of Kansa, the king of the Bhojas. Thehighly wrathful regenerate Rishi (gratified with the adoration) gave himboons.[20] Of eyes like the lotus petals, and endued with great bravery,Krishna, vanquishing all the kings at a self-choice, bore away thedaughter of the king of the Gandharas. Those angry kings, as if they werehorses by birth, were yoked unto his nuptial car and were lacerated withthe whip. The mighty-armed Janardana also caused Jarasandha, the lord ofa full Akshauhini of troops, to be slain through the instrumentality ofanother.[21] The mighty Krishna also slew the valiant king of Chedis,that leader of kings, as if he were some animal, on the occasion of thelatter’s disputing about the Arghya. Putting forth his prowess, Madhavahurled unto the sea the Daitya city called Saubha, (moving) in the skies,protected by Salwa, and regarded as impregnable. The Angas, the Vangas,the Kalingas, the Magadhas, the Kasis, the Kosalas, the Vatsyas, theGargyas, the Karushas and the Paundras,–all these he vanquished inbattle. The Avantis, the Southerners, the Mountaineers, the Daserakas,the Kasmirakas, the Aurasikas, the Pisachas, the Samudgalas, theKamvojas, the Vatadhanas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, O Sanjaya, theTrigartas, the Malavas, the Daradas difficult of being vanquished, theKhasas arrived from diverse realms, as also the Sakas, and the Yavanaswith followers, were all vanquished by him of eyes like lotus-petals. Indays of old, penetrating into the very sea, he vanquished in battleVaruna himself in those watery depths, surrounded by all kinds of aquaticanimals. Slaying in battle (the Danava named) Panchajanya living in thedepths of Patala, Hrishikesa obtained the celestial conch calledPanchajanya. The mighty Kesava, accompanied by Partha, having gratifiedAgni at Khandava, obtained his invincible weapon of fire, viz., hisdiscus (called Sudarsana). Riding on Vinata’s son and frightening (thedenizens of) Amaravati, the heroic Krishna brought from Mahendra himself(the celestial flower called) Parijata. Knowing Krishna’s prowess, Sakraquietly bore that act.[22] We have never heard that there is any oneamong the kings who has not been vanquished by Krishna. That exceedinglywonderful feat also, O Sanjaya, which the lotus-eyed one performed in mycourt, who else is capable of performing it? And since, humbled bydevotion, I was suffered to behold Krishna as the Supreme Lord;everything (about that feat) is well-known to me, myself having witnessedit with my own eyes, O Sanjaya, the end can never be seen of the(infinite) achievements of Hrishikesa. of great energy and greatintelligence. Gada, and Samva, and Pradyumna, and Viduratha, andCharudeshna, and Sarana, and Ulmukha, and Nisatha, and the valiantJhilivabhru, and Prithu, and Viprithu, and Samika, and Arimejaya,–theseand other mighty Vrishni heroes, accomplished in smiting, will, standingon the field of battle, take up their position in the Pandava host, whensummoned by that Vrishni hero, viz., the high-souled Kesava. Everything(on my side) will then be in great danger. Even this is what I think. Andthere where Janardana is, there will be the heroic Rama, equal instrength to ten thousand elephants, resembling the Kailasa peak, deckedwith garlands of wild flowers, and armed with the plough. That Vasudeva,O Sanjaya, whom all the regenerate ones describe as the Father of all,will that Vasudeva fight for the sake of the Pandavas? O son, O Sanjaya,if he puts on his armour for the sake of the Pandavas, there is noneamongst us who can be his antagonist. If the Kauravas happen to vanquishthe Pandavas, he, of the Vrishni race, will then, for the sake of thelatter, take up his mighty weapon. And that tiger among men, thatmighty-armed one, slaying then all the kings in battle as also theKauravas, will give away the whole earth to Kunti’s son. What car willadvance in battle against that car which has Hrishikesa for its driverand Dhananjaya for its warrior? The Kurus cannot, by any means, gainvictory. Tell me, then everything about how the battle took place. Arjunais Kesava’s life and Krishna is always victory; in Krishna is alwaysfame. In all the worlds, Vibhatsu is invincible. In Kesava are infinitemerits in excess. The foolish Duryodhana, who doth not know Krishna orKesava, seems, through Destiny, to have Death’s noose before him. Alas,Duryodhana knows not Krishna of Dasarha’s race and Arjuna the son ofPandu. These high-souled ones are ancient gods. They are even Nara andNarayana. On earth they are seen by men as; two separate forms, though inreality they are both possessed but by one soul. With the mind alone,that invincible pair, of world-wide fame, can, if only they wish it,destroy this host. Only, in consequence of their humanity they do notwish it.[23] Like a change of the Yuga, the death of Bhishma, O child,and the slaughter of the high-souled Drona, overturn the senses. Indeed,neither by Brahmacharya, nor by the study of the Vedas, nor by(religious) rites, nor by weapons, can any one prevent death. Hearing ofthe slaughter of Bhishma and Drona, those heroes accomplished in weapons,respected by all the worlds, and invincible in battle, why O Sanjaya, doI yet live? In consequence of the death of Bhishma and Drona, O Sanjaya,we will henceforth have to live as dependants on that prosperitybeholding which in Yudhishthira we had before been so jealous. Indeed,this destruction of the Kurus hath come in consequence only of my acts. OSuta, in killing these that are ripe for destruction, the very strawbecomes thunderbolt. That prosperity is without end in this; world whichYudhishthira is about to obtain–Yudhishthira through whose wrath bothBhishma and Drona have fallen. In consequence of his very disposition,hath Righteousness gone over to the side of Yudhishthira, while it ishostile to my son. Alas, time, so cruel, that hath now come for thedestruction of all, cannot be overcome. Things calculated in one way, Oson, even by men of intelligence, become otherwise through Destiny. Thisis what I think. Therefore, tell me everything that has taken placeduring the progress of this unavoidable and dreadful calamity productiveof the most sorrowful reflection incapable of being crossed over (byus).'”