Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 5

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

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CHAPTER TWO The chest was carried by the river to the gate of Sauryapura. At dawn Subhadra, a rasa-dealer, 50 went there to bathe, saw the brass chest, and pulled it from the water. With astonishment he saw in it the boy, like a new moon, together with the letter, the jewels, and the rings. The merchant took the boy with the chest, et cetera home and, delighted, handed him over to his wife, Indu, as a son. The husband and wife gave him the name Kansa and made him grow with honey, milk, ghi, et cetera. As he grew up, he was quarrelsome and abused the boys. Daily complaints came to the merchant and his wife from the people.
When he was ten years old, he was sent by them to attend Prince Vasudeva and he became very dear to him. He studied all the arts with Vasudeva and played with him and reached manhood with him. Prince Vasudeva and Kansa, being together, looked like Mercury and Mars in one sign of the zodiac.
Now in the city Suktimatī the ninth son of Vasu escaped and went to Nāgapura.51 His son was BỊhadratha. He went to Rājagpha and among his descendants was a king, named Jayadratha, and his son was Jarāsandha. He, the Prativişņu, having cruel commands, was lord of three parts of Bharata; and thus commanded King Samudravijaya through a messenger: “ Capture and bring King Siñharatha, who lives in Sinhapura, a city near Mt. Vaitāļhya, who is irresistible like a lion. To the one bringing him, I will give my own daughter, Jivayaśas, and any one city of first rank in wealth which he desires."
Vasudeva bowed to Samudravijaya and asked permission to execute Jārasandha's order, though difficult. Samudravijaya said, “ Fighting is not appropriate for you, a delicate boy,
50 72. Rasavānija. Rasa seems to include a wide range, such as honey, milk, ghī, sugar-cane juice, wine. I can think of no English term to include them all.
51 80. For this incident, see IV, p. 147;