The Extraordinary Story of Jarasandha's Birth, the King Who Fought Lord Krishna 18 Times

Exclusive conversation in Shri Hit Keli Kunj, Vrindavan, with Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj. Sadhaks put forward questions about their life and sadhana, and Maharaj Ji resolves them.

Complete Discourse

In the land of Magadh there reigned a famous and mighty king named Brihadratha. He was the sole master of three akshauhini armies. Jarasandha was his son, a very brave warrior in battle. Brihadratha was handsome, strong, wealthy and valiant. He was extremely radiant, and his virtues were constantly spoken of. Hearing of Brihadratha's glory, the king of Kashi gave him his twin daughters along with his wealth in marriage. Since they were twins, they shared one form, one nature and one temperament, and both were given to Brihadratha. The two sisters had great love for each other.

When the marriage was complete, the two sisters said, "Sister, our jealousy may awaken. Since both of us are married to one husband, let there never be jealousy between us." Both made a vow that they would treat each other equally and would never be jealous of one another. Not even a trace of inequality would enter their conduct. Time passed in great joy. It appeared as though the sacred streams of the Ganga and Yamuna were meeting in King Brihadratha. Although there is no true happiness in worldly pleasures, there is still such attraction that the king's whole life passed and not a single child was born.

When he saw that old age had come and there was not one child, he became very sad: "Who will offer tarpan to our ancestors?" He had a putrestri yagya performed for the increase of his lineage, but even that did not help. Understand this: if there is no son in one's destiny, then even if all the yagyas in the world are performed, it will not happen. If it is in destiny, some circumstance will arise. King Brihadratha was now very sad. Then the great and radiant sage Chand Kaushik, the supremely generous son of the sage Kakshivan of the Gautam lineage, happened to pass by. Brihadratha heard from a spy that the great ascetic and radiant sage Chand Kaushik was sitting under a tree in his kingdom.

He took his wives, went there, prostrated fully before the sage, and prayed: "Lord, great sage, if you as a sage wish, my misfortune can be removed. This is the strength of saints." Sage Chand Kaushik asked, "King, you could have come alone. Why did you bring both wives?" He replied, "Lord, we three wish to pray together, because our fate is that to this day we have had no son. We have also performed a putrestri yagya. People say that without a son, the tarpan of ancestors, their deliverance, and many such household rites are not considered complete.

And old age has come. I am sonless. Now there is no heir to the kingdom. That is why we have come with both wives. Or else, please be kind; let us give up our lives through penance. To me, a childless man, nothing seems good in this world, because the other world is empty. When there is no child, what is there in the next world?" He wept before the sage and fell into full prostration. Sage Chand Kaushik felt compassion. He said, "Listen, a righteous person like you should not be so unhappy. You are a king who follows excellent vows. I know your conduct; you are very good.

I am pleased with you. Tell me, what do you desire?" Brihadratha immediately seized the sage's feet. He said, "Maharaj, you already know what I desire. I want a son. Lord, if you do not give me a son, I will go to the forest, dry up my body and give up my life." Lord Shri Krishna said to Maharaj Yudhishthira, "O King, when Brihadratha spoke such words to the sage, the sage's heart melted, and he went into meditation. He was sitting in the shade of a mango tree. When he entered meditation, a mango fruit came by itself into his lap. No wind had blown, and no parrot had pecked at it.

The fruit came into his lap on its own. He took the fruit in his hand, consecrated it with a mantra, and said, 'Go, your desire will be fulfilled. Through this you will obtain a great and mighty son. Return to your capital. Maharaj, you will have a son far more beautiful and radiant than this. Protect your subjects in righteousness. Worship the Lord through yagyas. Go.' Now I give eight boons to the son you will have. First, by eating this fruit, he will be unconquerable in battle. Second, he will never lose his enthusiasm for battle. Third, he will be so fond of guests that he can even give his life for them.

His gracious gaze will rest on the poor and the suffering. His strength will be great. His fame in the world will be imperishable. He will show affection to his subjects." Sage Chand Kaushik gave eight boons. Now the king's desire was fulfilled. He danced with joy. Again and again he placed his head at the sage's feet. Then, having taken his blessing, he returned home and gave the mango fruit to his two wives. Both of them took it together, because they had been born as twins and had great love, and they had also sworn that they would make no distinction. They took the mango fruit. They should have thought further, should have asked the sages and the brahmins, "How should we receive this?" But they took a knife and cut the mango into two parts, and each of the two sisters took one piece.

Both became pregnant. The king was overjoyed. The sage had said there would be one son, but now both had conceived, and he thought: "The sage said there would be one son, but our fortune has increased even more. There will be two sons, two sons will be born." Now, when the time came for the delivery of the pregnancy, there was astonishment. The king was very happy. Delivery took place, and two pieces of a body came out. By illusion, one half was from one mother and the other half from the other mother: one eye, one hand, one leg, half a stomach, half a face, and the lower half of the body, one from one mother and one from the other, both right and left. The mothers were terrified; they began to tremble, and their hearts became very agitated. The two sisters informed the king that a dead child had been born, and he fainted.

Deeply grieved, the two queens took counsel. There was no movement at all, yet both babies were alive. Each had the life-force, the fruit given by the sage. But at that moment they had no clear understanding. Seeing the two halves, they became terrified. They wrapped each half separately in cloth, went outside, and threw them away. A demoness named Jara was roaming nearby. The queens threw the halves away and left, and Jara did not know they had been thrown out. She smelled the scent of human flesh. So Jara, the demoness who eats blood and flesh, found the two halves of the newborn wrapped in cloth.

The demoness separated the two halves from the cloth, and with great joy she prepared to eat them. Then the halves joined together, joined together. As soon as the two came together, they became one very beautiful boy, a handsome prince. The demoness's eyes lit up with wonder. She thought, "What will I gain from eating so much flesh? I will give these to our king. The king will arrange a full meal of meat." The boy put his thumb in his mouth and began to cry. The sound of his wailing was loud. The demoness too was astonished, for it seemed impossible that a child born in two separate pieces could be made whole simply by joining them.

Such a terrible wailing. Now she went towards the palace. She did not take a demonic form but assumed a beautiful human form. She went to King Brihadratha and said: "Maharaj Brihadratha, do not grieve. The pieces of the son that were born to you, I have joined. He has become a son, and he is your own son. I saw this through meditation. Tell me, even demonesses have such meditative knowledge. Accept him. I know that your wives conceived by the blessing of the Brahmarishi Kaushik Muni. They had no understanding, so they took the fruit as an ordinary mango, and that is why two pieces were born.

He is your own son. Accept him."

Lord Shri Krishna says: O jewel of the Bharata dynasty, the king of Kashi's daughters, who were Brihadratha's wives, were summoned, and the one son was placed in their laps. Milk was flowing from their breasts just as before. Brihadratha's joy knew no bounds. He said to the goddess with golden radiance: "Who are you? Your beauty is like the inner pollen of a lotus. Goddess, who has granted me a son, who are you?" The demoness replied: "Rajendra, may you be well. Do not be afraid. I am not beautiful; I am very frightening. I took a beautiful form for you, because I had to bring the son to the palace. I am the demoness named Jara, and I can assume any form at will.

I can go wherever I wish."

Then the king said: "From today I establish your worship. From today you will be worshipped throughout the city like a family goddess, and you will live happily in our city. I will have you worshipped in every household." She replied: "Brahma ji had earlier given me this boon as well: that for some time I would be a demoness, and then I would be worshipped as a household goddess." How is she worshipped? An image is made on the wall of the house. Everyone saw it in childhood. The wall is coated with clay, a figure is shaped in a certain way, and the whole thing is made.

A picture is drawn on the walls of the house, and she is shaped within it, surrounded by many sons. Then fine offerings are made. In return for this worship, I keep safe the house where worship is performed. I have joined your sons, and by the joining of the pieces the prince has appeared. O King, now perform the rites for this child. Joined in my name, the child has the power to swallow Mount Sumeru. I can see Mount Sumeru. No one could devour this child, for such a one has never been born.

But my worship must be properly established in your city and in your house." Having said this, the demoness Jara vanished before their eyes. The king took the child to the palace, had the birth rites performed, and issued an order throughout the land of Magadha: Jara the demoness must be worshipped as a household goddess. Brihadratha named the child in consultation with the brahmins. Because Jara had joined him, and she had said he should bear her name, the child was named Jarasandha. "Sandh" means joining, and Jara joined him.

Bhagavan is narrating this to Maharaj Yudhishthira. Thus the child was very radiant. Day by day he grew, just as when ghee is poured into fire, it blazes up. Some time later, the great ascetic Chand Kaushik Muni came again, wandering through the land of Magadha. His arrival filled King Brihadratha with great joy.

He placed the royal ministers, the brahmins, the cows and others in front, worshipped the sage, and offered the entire kingdom and treasury at his feet. Seeing the king's generosity and accepting his worship, the Maharaj was very pleased and said: "O King, from Jarasandha's birth until now, I have learned all these facts through divine sight. Listen, I will tell you what your son's future will be. Special radiance of form, strength, speech and vigour will manifest in him. This son will be endowed with the prosperity of an empire. This mighty one, troubled by all sorrows, will worship the lord of the gods, Rudra Dev, and will obtain his direct vision."

He spoke to Maharaj Brihadratha at length about Jarasandha's glory. Thereafter Maharaj Brihadratha anointed Jarasandha and made him king. He himself, performing penance with his wives, attained the abode of the Lord. The first thing Jarasandha did after becoming king was to worship Devadhidev Mahadev Shankar. Lord Shankar appeared and granted him a boon: that Lord Shankar himself would give him special strength to protect the wealth of the kingdom.

Now Shri Krishna killed Kansa. Jarasandha had two daughters, and they had been married to Kansa.

Now, when she was widowed, Jarasandha attacked eighteen times for this very reason. He had grown so arrogant that he whirled his mace 99 times from Girivraj and hurled it. When it fell toward Mathura, the protection of the Sudarshan Chakra destroyed the mace in mid-air. Not once, but 99 times he threw the mace, meant to reduce Mathura to dust. Jarasandha, from the land of Magadha, whirled his mace and flung it toward Mathura 99 times, a feat only he could perform. Still, he could not harm Mathura, because Lord Shri Krishna Chandra had revealed to Dharmaraj Yudhishthira through the Sudarshan Chakra that Jarasandha's chief helpers, Hans and Dimbhak, had drowned in the Yamuna. Kansa too went into the jaws of death along with his helpers.

This is a very good opportunity for us to defeat Jarasandha. Look, no one can defeat me in strategy. Shri Krishna says that no one can defeat him in strategy. And no one can defeat Bhimasena in strength, and Arjuna protects both of them. So victory is certain. We three will go, with no army, no chariots, elephants or horses. He told Yudhishthira, "We three will go, and the three of us will defeat him." We will go to Jarasandha and beg for alms, asking that he fight a duel with one of the three of us. Out of fear of humiliation, there is no doubt he will not fight us. He may then fight Arjuna, but he will fight Bhima. Bhimasena, great in arms, will surely bring about the death of this arrogant Jarasandha. Bhimasena is enough for Jarasandha, just as one Yamraj is enough for the destruction of the whole world. If you know my heart and trust me, then entrust Bhima and Arjuna to me as a pledge. I will kill Jarasandha and win the victory.

When the Lord said this, the faces of Bhimasena and Arjuna, standing there, lit up with joy. Looking at both of them, Yudhishthira spoke: "Govind, you who never fall from your dignity, destroyer of enemies, Achyut, please do not say such things. You are the master and protector of the Pandavas. We are all under your shelter. You say, 'Give Arjuna and Bhima,' but Lord, all of this already belongs to you. Govind, whatever you say is all right. You never come before those whose royal fortune has turned away.

Your coming means glory, fame and auspiciousness. By merely following your command, I consider Jarasandha already slain. All the kings have been freed from his captivity, and my Rajasuya yajna has been completed today. By your command, Purushottam, please carefully take the very steps that will quickly accomplish the task. Just as a sick person, devoid of dharma, desire and wealth, gives up on life in great misery, in the same way, just know this: we cannot live without the three of you. You will ask, 'How without the three of us?'

So listen in order. Without Shri Krishna, Arjuna cannot live, and without Arjuna, the son of Pandu, we all cannot live. So understand that the three of you are our life-breath. But we believe that nothing is unconquerable for one whose name is Krishna. This Bhimasena will stay with you. Keep him under your command, Lord, because even we cannot know when or what he may wish to do. Just as an army well led by skilled commanders attains victory, so, Shri Krishna, you should direct him." When Yudhishthira said this, the greatly radiant Lord Shri Krishna set out with Arjuna and Bhimasena toward the capital of Magadha's king, Jarasandha, to defeat him.

The three took the disguise of brahmins and put on the clothes of snataka brahmins. Jarasandha was a devotee of brahmins, and early every morning he gave whatever a brahmin asked for. Great radiant people do not care for their own lives. The three passed through the Kuru region and Kuru Jangal, and reached the delightful Padma lake. Then, reaching Kalakut mountain, they crossed the Gandaki, the Mahasan and the Sadanira in a mountainous region and moved ahead. Crossing the Sarayu river, they passed through the Kaushal region and Ayodhya in Kaushal, crossed Mithila and the Ganga, and proceeded through Shobhadra toward the east. In brahmin disguise they reached the border of Magadha, full of cattle, with very large, beautiful, full reservoirs. Jarasandha's capital was very beautiful.

Shri Krishna said, "Arjuna, this is the land of Magadha. Look how beautiful it is under Jarasandha's protection, how many cattle, how many beautiful lakes of water. Here it seems that even the ancient diseases created by Brahma cannot enter, and even they fear Jarasandha. How lovely and charming this city is." Lord Shri Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima entered not by the main road but by a side path.

The two greatly radiant brothers, Arjuna and Bhima, and Shri Krishna, did not enter the city, which was full of people of all four varnas, by the royal road. They entered from Girivraj. They went near Girivraj and climbed up the mountain called Chaitya. Worship was performed at the peak of that mountain, so they said, "Begin the inauspicious work right here." Offerings are made on the summit of Chaitak mountain, and this is their sacred place. Bhimasena struck it with his arm, and the entire peak of Chaitra mountain, which was their object of worship, fell down. There was also a drum covered with the hide of a demon. Once it was struck, its sound would echo for three months, three months. Its meaning was that the drum would sound only when a destructive leela was about to take place. So they thought: they broke the peak, and if even a little of it fell on the drum, the sound would travel for months, and Jarasandha would learn that a hero had arrived.

So Bhima was told to break the drum first. He placed it that way and tore it apart. Through Mahabal, the Chaitaka mountain of the Magadh people was brought down, flag and all. For one with whom the Lord stands, what is unattainable? Now the learned scholars, versed in the Vedas and masters of Vedic lore, said to Jarasandha, "Maharaj, this moment indicates that misfortune is about to befall you." At that very time the Chaitraka mountain fell and the drums were broken. Jarasandha said, "Do something so that no misfortune comes." The Brahmins had the svastivachan recited, and Jarasandha, seated on an elephant, circled the fire four times, trying to remove the inauspiciousness. The Brahmins too.. Lord Shri Krishna, Bhimsen and Arjun, in the guise of Brahmins, did not go by the road. They went by an unpaved way, clearing their own path with their arms. Destroying all the ornamental splendour of the palace, they entered the enemy's dwelling. Demolishing and smashing every decoration with force, they advanced like a lion that lives in a Himalayan cave entering a town. Now the three were in Brahmin guise. When Jarasandha looked, he saw three Brahmins standing apart in the line of Brahmins.

Their gait, bearing, colour and form are not like those of Brahmins, and their arms are calloused from the bowstring. Still, they were worthy of honour, though only in Brahmin guise; they were not really Brahmins. Jarasandha guessed this at once, yet he rose, offered them the arghya according to the rites, and honoured them as guests: "Welcome, welcome, all three, please be seated." The Lord told Arjun and Bhimsen, "You will not speak; you will keep silence. We will speak, we who are very wise." Shri Krishna said, "Rajendra, these two Brahmins of ours have taken a vow. They speak only after 12 o'clock at night, so they will not talk with you. Whatever you want to say, say it to us." The king then said, "No, I will speak with all three. First stay in the yajnashala. After 12 midnight we will come and speak with all three. Should I have you keep silent? Brother, wait in the yajnashala, and then we will talk with all three." The remaining discussion follows. Shri Radhavallabh Lal ki.

This text is taken from the video's auto-generated subtitles, so it may contain word errors. Please listen to the video itself for the authentic words.

Original video: Bhajan Marg (YouTube)