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MARRIAGES OF SAMBA AND PRADYUMNA
murderer lives and rules the earth."
66
Seeing her, Jarasandha asked the reason for the outcry. She told him the news about Kṛṣṇa and said with folded hands: Father, release me right now. I will enter the fire. I will keep my promise. I will not live any longer." Jarasandha said: "Daughter, do not weep like this. I certainly will make the mothers, sisters, and wives of Kansāri weep. Now there will be an extinction of the Yadavas." With these words the Lord of Magadha, though opposed by his ministers, ordered the army for the march. His powerful sons, Sahadeva, et cetera, followed him; and Siśupāla, King of Cedi, chief of the powerful. King Hiraṇyanābha, very strong and powerful, and Duryodhana, the Kauravya, a leader in battle, and many other kings and vassals by the thousands converged on Jarasandha like rivers on the ocean.
The crown fell from his head, the necklace on his chest broke, he stumbled, his foot caught by the end of his garment, and he sneezed in the beginning. His left eye twitched,210 his elephant relieved itself, there was an unfavorable wind, and vultures wheeled in the air. He did not stop at all, though an unfavorable result was foretold by these unfavorable omens and signs and others also like friends.211 Filling the heavens with noise, as well as dust raised by the soldiers, shaking the earth like an excited elephant of the quarters, Jarasandha, who had made a cruel promise, mounted a rutting elephant and set out toward the west, very powerful.
Närada, full of curiosity, and spies went in haste and told Śārngapāņi that Jarasandha was approaching. Kṛṣṇa, the sole abode of splendor like a fire, got ready for the march, accompanied by the beating of a drum. At its sound all the Yadavas and kings assembled, like gods of Saudharma at the sound of the bell Sughoṣā. Among them Samudravijaya came there in full armor, irresistible like the ocean, and also
210 150. Unlucky in a man. Cf. IV, p. 371.
211 151. I.e., like friends attempting to warn him.
221
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