Chapter Two Śrī Dvārakā-vāsa-kathana Residence in Śrī Dvārakā

Again Jarāsandha approached Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with an army of many akṣauhiṇīs, again he fought with the Yādavas, and again Lord Kṛṣṇa quickly defeated him.

The Yādavas again and again plundered great wealth and many bows, elephants, and other things from the armies defeated by Lord Kṛṣṇa transcendental power.

O king, without having to fight, the little girls carrying water to the Yādava soldiers could easily take what they wanted from the slain soldiers of the enemy.

Seeing the valuable garments and property of the enemy soldiers, the people of Mathurā became very happy.

Even though his army had been destroyed seventeen times in this way, Jarāsandha still fixed his mind on an eighteenth war.

Then, encouraged by me, powerful King Kālayavana beseiged Mathurā with an army of ten million mlecchas.

Seeing that their city was terrified of the mleccha army, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma considered what to do.

Then, in one night Lord Kṛṣṇa built the Dvārakā fort in the middle of the ocean filled with fearful roaring sounds.

Viśvakarmā arranged that all eight directions were perfectly protected. They who yearn for liberatuion could see that city had all the opulences of Vaikuṇṭha.

By His mystic power Lord Kṛṣṇa then took all the people of Mathurā to Dvārakā. O king of Mithilā, after taking His leave of Lord Balarāma, Lord Kṛṣṇa, now unarmed, went outside the Mathurā City walls.

Aware, by the description I had given him, that this unarmed person was Kṛṣṇa, the demon put down his arms and walked to Kṛṣṇa to start a fight.

Then Kṛṣṇa turned and fled. As the host of soldiers watched, Kālayavana ran in pursuit of Lord Kṛṣṇa, whom even the great yogīs cannot catch.

Seeming only a hand's legnth away, Lord Kṛṣṇa ran a great distance and finally entered the cave of a black mountain.

In that cave stayed King Mandhātā noble son Mucukunda, who in ancient times protected the demigods from the demons.

O king, as the commander-in-chief of the demigods' armies, he had not slept for many days and nights. Pleased with him, all the demigods finally approached that great king and said:

"O king, please ask for a boon. Ask for whatever is in your heart." Bowing down to them, that king of kings said: "I wish to sleep a great sleep.

sa mayā dṛṣṭa-matras tu bhāsmī-bhavatu tat-kṣaṇāt tathā ca coktaḥ suṣvāpa rājā kṛta-yuge purā śayanānte—at the end of the sleep; hareḥ—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sākṣād-—direwct; darśanam—the sight; me—of me; bhavatv—masy be; alam—greatly; yaḥ—one who; madhye—in the middle; bodhayet—awakens; mām—me; vai—indeed; śayanam—sleeping; tv—indeed; apy—indeed; acetanam—unconscious; sa—he; mayā—by me; dṛṣṭa-matraḥ—simply by a glance; tu—indeed; bhāsmī-bhavatu—may be burned to ashes; tat-kṣaṇāt—from that moment; tathā—so; ca—and; ca—and; uktaḥ—said; suṣvāpa—slept; rāja—the king; kṛta—in Satya-yuga; yuge—in the yuga; purā—in ancient times. "When my sleep is over I will see Lord Kṛṣṇa directly. Anyone who wakens me before that, while I am still sleeping, I will burn to ashes with a glance." After speaking these words in ancient times, in the Satya-yuga, King Mucukunda went to sleep.

sa mayā dṛṣṭa-matras tu bhāsmī-bhavatu tat-kṣaṇāt tathā ca coktaḥ suṣvāpa rājā kṛta-yuge purā śayanānte—at the end of the sleep; hareḥ—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sākṣād-—direwct; darśanam—the sight; me—of me; bhavatv—masy be; alam—greatly; yaḥ—one who; madhye—in the middle; bodhayet—awakens; mām—me; vai—indeed; śayanam—sleeping; tv—indeed; apy—indeed; acetanam—unconscious; sa—he; mayā—by me; dṛṣṭa-matraḥ—simply by a glance; tu—indeed; bhāsmī-bhavatu—may be burned to ashes; tat-kṣaṇāt—from that moment; tathā—so; ca—and; ca—and; uktaḥ—said; suṣvāpa—slept; rāja—the king; kṛta—in Satya-yuga; yuge—in the yuga; purā—in ancient times. "When my sleep is over I will see Lord Kṛṣṇa directly. Anyone who wakens me before that, while I am still sleeping, I will burn to ashes with a glance." After speaking these words in ancient times, in the Satya-yuga, King Mucukunda went to sleep.

Entering that cave, the great demon Kālayavana at once kicked King Mucukunda, thinking him to be Lord Kṛṣṇa,

Slowly opening his eyes, Mucukunda became awake. Looking in all directions, he finally saw Kālayavana standing at his side.

O king of Mithilā, then King Mucukunda became angry and with a single glance burned to demon to ashes in a moment.

When Kālayavana was thus burned to ashes, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, showed His own form to wise Mucukunda, a form that . . .

. . . was splendid as ten million suns, circled with light, all-powerful, decorated with a crown splendid as the sun, decorated with earrings, armlets, and anklets, . . .

. . . had lotus eyes and four arms, was marked with Śrīvatsa and decorated with a forest garland, was splendid like a black cloud, and was more handsome than ten million Kāmadevas.

Gazing at this form and aware that this was the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, King Mucukunda became filled with happiness. First he stood with folded hands and then He bowed before the Lord with great devotion.

My respectful obeisances are unto you, O Lord, whose abdomen is marked with a dpression like a lotus flower, who are always decorated with garlands of lotus flowers, whose glance is as cool as the lotus, and whose feet are engraved with lotuses.*

My respectful obeisances are unto supremely pure Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is both the impersonal Brahman and the all-pervading Supersoul, who is the enlivener of the cows and the senses, and who destroys the sufferings of the surrendered devotees.

My respectful obeisances are unto limitless Lord Kṛṣṇa, who appears in millions of forms, who has millions of feet, eyes, heads, thighs, and arms, who has millions of names, who is the eternal Supreme Person, and who maintains the worlds for billions of yugas.

O Lord Kṛṣṇa, in this world no one is as sinful as I and no one is as purifying as You. Therefore, O master of the worlds, O effulgent Lord, please consider my case and do what You wish.

Go at once to My abode named Badarikāśrama. By performing austerities there you will become the best of brāhmaṇas.

O great king, by serving Me with loving devotion You will attain My own abode, which is above the world of matter. They who go there never return to the world of birth and death.

The Dvāpara-yuga people, who were all very short, became terrified and fled when on the road they saw King Mucukunda, who was tall as a hundred palm trees.

bhagavān punar āvrajya mathurāṁ mleccha-veṣṭitām hatvā mleccha-balaṁ sarvaṁ tad-dhanāny acchinad balāt mā—don't; bhaiṣṭa—be afraid; iti—thus; abhayam—fearlessness; yacchan—giving; jagāma—went; diśam—to the direction; uttaram—north; evam—thus; dattvā—giving; varam—a benediction; tasmai—to him; mucukundāya—Mucukunda; dhīmate—wise; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; punaḥ—again; āvrajya—returning; mathurām—to Mathurā; mleccha-veṣṭitām—surrounded by mlecchas; hatvā—killing; mleccha-balam—the mleccha army; sarvam—entire; tad-dhanāny—their wealth; acchinat—broke; balāt—forcibly. Saying, "Don't be afraid", Mucukunda removed their fears and continued north. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, after giving His blessings to wise Mucukunda, returned to Mathurā City, which was surrounded by the mlecchas. The Lord killed the entire mleccha army and forcibly broke the mlecchas' power.

bhagavān punar āvrajya mathurāṁ mleccha-veṣṭitām hatvā mleccha-balaṁ sarvaṁ tad-dhanāny acchinad balāt mā—don't; bhaiṣṭa—be afraid; iti—thus; abhayam—fearlessness; yacchan—giving; jagāma—went; diśam—to the direction; uttaram—north; evam—thus; dattvā—giving; varam—a benediction; tasmai—to him; mucukundāya—Mucukunda; dhīmate—wise; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; punaḥ—again; āvrajya—returning; mathurām—to Mathurā; mleccha-veṣṭitām—surrounded by mlecchas; hatvā—killing; mleccha-balam—the mleccha army; sarvam—entire; tad-dhanāny—their wealth; acchinat—broke; balāt—forcibly. Saying, "Don't be afraid", Mucukunda removed their fears and continued north. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, after giving His blessings to wise Mucukunda, returned to Mathurā City, which was surrounded by the mlecchas. The Lord killed the entire mleccha army and forcibly broke the mlecchas' power.

Then King Jarāsandha, eager to fight again with Lord Kṛṣṇa, called together the great astrologer-brāhmaṇas of the Māgadha country.

Jarāsandha said to them: If I defeat Kṛṣṇa, when I return I will take shelter of your feet and worship you all forever.

But if I am defeated and imprisoned, I will kill you all. Of this there is no doubt.

After speaking these words, powerful King Jarāsandha, taking with him 23 army divisions, quickly went to Mathurā City.

rāma-kṛṣṇau parau devau padbhyāṁ dudruvatur drutam palāyamānau tau vīkṣya māgadhaḥ prahasan bhṛśam anvadhāvad rathānīkair brahma-vākyam anusmaran dakṣināśaṁ gatāv itthaṁ pravarṣaṇa-girau harī brahma—of the brāhmaṇas; vākyam—the statement; ṛtam—proper; kartum—to do; sva-pratijṣām—his own promise; vihāya—abandoning; ca—and; manuṣya-ceṣṭām—the actions of human beings; āpannau—attained; sva-purāt—from his city; bhīta-bhītavat—as if terrified; rāma-kṛṣṇau—Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; parau devau—ther two Supreme Lord; padbhyām—on foot; dudruvatuḥ—ran; drutam—quickly; palāyamānau—fleeing; tau—Them; vīkṣya—seeing; māgadhaḥ—the king of Magadha; prahasan—laughing; bhṛśam—greatly; anvadhāvat—followed; rathānīkaiḥ—with chariot soldiewrs; brahma-vākyam—the brāhmaṇas' words; anusmaran—remembering; dakṣināśam—to the south; gatāv—direction; ittham—thus; pravarṣaṇa-girau—on Mount Pravarsana; harī—the two Supreme Lords. Seeing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma fleeing on foot as if They were ordinary terrified human beings, Jarāsandha laughed aloud. At first he was determined not to keep the promise he made to the brāhmaṇas. Then, with many chariot warriors pursuing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as They ran south to Mount Pravarṣaṇa, he remembered his words to the brāhmaṇas.

rāma-kṛṣṇau parau devau padbhyāṁ dudruvatur drutam palāyamānau tau vīkṣya māgadhaḥ prahasan bhṛśam anvadhāvad rathānīkair brahma-vākyam anusmaran dakṣināśaṁ gatāv itthaṁ pravarṣaṇa-girau harī brahma—of the brāhmaṇas; vākyam—the statement; ṛtam—proper; kartum—to do; sva-pratijṣām—his own promise; vihāya—abandoning; ca—and; manuṣya-ceṣṭām—the actions of human beings; āpannau—attained; sva-purāt—from his city; bhīta-bhītavat—as if terrified; rāma-kṛṣṇau—Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; parau devau—ther two Supreme Lord; padbhyām—on foot; dudruvatuḥ—ran; drutam—quickly; palāyamānau—fleeing; tau—Them; vīkṣya—seeing; māgadhaḥ—the king of Magadha; prahasan—laughing; bhṛśam—greatly; anvadhāvat—followed; rathānīkaiḥ—with chariot soldiewrs; brahma-vākyam—the brāhmaṇas' words; anusmaran—remembering; dakṣināśam—to the south; gatāv—direction; ittham—thus; pravarṣaṇa-girau—on Mount Pravarsana; harī—the two Supreme Lords. Seeing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma fleeing on foot as if They were ordinary terrified human beings, Jarāsandha laughed aloud. At first he was determined not to keep the promise he made to the brāhmaṇas. Then, with many chariot warriors pursuing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as They ran south to Mount Pravarṣaṇa, he remembered his words to the brāhmaṇas.

rāma-kṛṣṇau parau devau padbhyāṁ dudruvatur drutam palāyamānau tau vīkṣya māgadhaḥ prahasan bhṛśam anvadhāvad rathānīkair brahma-vākyam anusmaran dakṣināśaṁ gatāv itthaṁ pravarṣaṇa-girau harī brahma—of the brāhmaṇas; vākyam—the statement; ṛtam—proper; kartum—to do; sva-pratijṣām—his own promise; vihāya—abandoning; ca—and; manuṣya-ceṣṭām—the actions of human beings; āpannau—attained; sva-purāt—from his city; bhīta-bhītavat—as if terrified; rāma-kṛṣṇau—Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; parau devau—ther two Supreme Lord; padbhyām—on foot; dudruvatuḥ—ran; drutam—quickly; palāyamānau—fleeing; tau—Them; vīkṣya—seeing; māgadhaḥ—the king of Magadha; prahasan—laughing; bhṛśam—greatly; anvadhāvat—followed; rathānīkaiḥ—with chariot soldiewrs; brahma-vākyam—the brāhmaṇas' words; anusmaran—remembering; dakṣināśam—to the south; gatāv—direction; ittham—thus; pravarṣaṇa-girau—on Mount Pravarsana; harī—the two Supreme Lords. Seeing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma fleeing on foot as if They were ordinary terrified human beings, Jarāsandha laughed aloud. At first he was determined not to keep the promise he made to the brāhmaṇas. Then, with many chariot warriors pursuing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as They ran south to Mount Pravarṣaṇa, he remembered his words to the brāhmaṇas.

Aware that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were hiding in the mountain, Jarāsandha set the mountain on fire and burned all its forests to ashes.

Jumping from a height of eighty-eight miles, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the two Supreme Personalities of Godhead, unseen by Their enemies, landed in Dvārakā.

Thinking that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had been burned to death, powerful Jarāsandha returned to the country of Māgadha, where he was a hero and the drums of victory sounded.

With great devotion Jarāsandha worshiped the brāhmaṇas. How can there be defeat for one helped by a brāhmaṇa? .pa