Indian Antiquary Vol 36

SR No.: 032528
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1907.
viewing, as the lion carries off the piece of flesh lying amidst foxes. He then blew his conch and proceeded towards Dvarake, while Balarama and others were following him with their armies. Jarasandha and others of his host were not able to brook tbis and questioned each other as to why they were seeing all this, so much perplexed. A crew of shepherds are robbing us of our honour and are carrying off the girl as the low animals rob the honour of the lion. When else can we show our valour if we cannot show it on this occasion ? Are our bows and arrows fit to be thrown away into fire if we cannot use them now? Would the people of the world fail to laugh if we let slip this opportunity and let go the girl? Jarasandhs and others having thus reasoned with one another, became exceedingly angry, put on mail armours, bore arrows and bows, and began bragging to one another, and being joined by the charioteers, infantry, and cavalry, went in pursuit of the Jädava forces, telling them to stop. This increased their valour and they showered a volley of Arrows on them when these were returned by a similar shower from the Jâdava leaders.
“While the troops of the enemy showered a volley of arrows and encircled Krishṇa and his armies, Rukmint, with a look, indicative of extreme terror and shame, saw the face of Krishộa, when he told her: 'My dear girl,' you may in a moment witness Jâdava warriors opposing the enemy and they will be very much troubled and would either run away or die.' Thus did Krishna console Rukmini when Balarams and others of Jadava warriors showered a bost of arrows, which resembled the heavy thunder and clouds that spread over the whole sky at the time of the deluge, over Jarasandhs and others, the enemy's camp presented an appearance of pieces of horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers, of boad-severed mahdsats, charioteers and horsemen of powdered chests, bands, legs, of broken skalls, of extensive hair, of severed feet, knees, calves of the legs, of powdered teeth, of thrownoff ornaments and other similar ones worn by the brave at the battle-field, of the Weepings of the valiant, of broken pieces of instruments of war, of ombrellas, of tattored armogr, of dust raised to the skies caused by the trampling of horses, of motionless chariots, of the low cries of horses and olophants, of the sounds of battle-drums, of tattered host of kings, of rivers of flood, of the noises of devils, of foxes and other animals eating the flesh and drinking the blood of corpses, of she-devils feasting on skalls and flesh of carcases,
"Jarasandha and others, the enemies of Křishņa, being unable to bear his attack, tarned their backs and fled, assembled at a certain spot, wept and soothed Sisupale, who was before them palo-faced and as one who lost his wife, emitting hot breath by asking him whether he is alive after being relieved from the hands of the enemy. Jarasandha and others said to Sisupala: 'Man oan livo anywhere, provided there is life in the body. If a man lives, a wife will somehow come of her own accord. You are now alive and therefore a wife can be secured from somewhere. Do not, therefore, weep over this affair very often.' Jarasandha again said to Sisupala, Sisapala, hear me. Man is not the agent of any deed. He would do a deed being held tight by the Almighty, as the puppet plays being led by the leading strings of the man in a pantomime. I invaded Mathur& seventeen times, when my whole army was reduced to nothing by Krishạs and I was captured by Balarama, whereupon Kșishna, out of mercy, released me. I again invaded Mathari the eighteenth time with twenty-three akahauhinis, when I drove out my enemies, Krishņa and Balarams, and gained a complete victory. I neither felt sorrow over a defeat, nor joy over a victory. If we should enquire carefully into this day's proceedings we cannot vanquish Krishņa, even though we join Siva and wage a war against him. Nor is this all. The whole world is pervaded by omnipotent time. As this was * good day for the JadAvas, they overcame us with the bravery of Krishna - us, whose valour is recognized in the three worlds. We, too, can gain victories over our enemy if fortune bo in our 'favour. Weep not, therefore, for this trifle.'