Lord Krishna Travels to Indraprastha

In the seventy first chapter, Krsna hears the advice of Uddhava and goes to Indraprastha with his associates and troops and lives there. Hearing the statements of Narada, the assembly, Krsna and the messenger from the imprisoned kings, and understanding everyone’s wishes, Uddhava being very intelligent (mahamatih) because he could satisfy everyone by keeping their wishes intact, began to speak. That is, Narada wanted Krsna to go to the rajasyuya sacrifice. The assembly and the messenger wanted him to kill Jarasandha. Krsna wanted to do both.

You should help Yudhisthira who wants to perform a sacrifice (yaksyatah), which was stated by Narada. You should also protect those who desire your shelter by killing Jarasandha, which is the opinion of the assembly and the messenger.

The best plan is if both acts are accomplished by one act. That is expressed in this verse. Both purposes, completion of the raja suya sacrifice and protecting the kings are accomplished by defeating Jarasandha. Unless one conquers all directions one cannot perform the raja suya sacrifice. Without killing Jarasandha one cannot be the conquerer of all direction. First you should accept the invitation to the rajasuya sacrifice. Accepting the request for protection of the kings however, will assist in achieving success of the sacrifice. One action will accomplish both ends.

There is great gain for us in the assembly by going for the rajasuya sacrifice (etena), since we also kill Jarasandha.

Seeing that the Yadavas were very eager to immediately kill Jarasandha he speaks this verse. Others even though they may be stronger, cannot defeat him. Even though Bhima is just equal in strength, he can kill Jarasandha. I have concluded this from the astrological scriptures taught by Brhaspati.

“He should be defeated by Bhima in single combat, not when he is with an army of a hundred aksauhini.”

“But he will engage his troops in fighting, so how can single combat be arranged?”

“He will not refuse the request of a brahmana.”

“You should beg him for single combat.”

“But what should I do if he wins?”

“It should be in your presence. And except for your presence, even in single combat with Bhima he cannot be killed.”

“If I do not do anything why should I be present?”

“Brahma and Siva are but your instruments in creation and destruction through the energy of invisible time. Just as time alone creates and destroys the universe with Brahma acting as an instrument in creation and Siva as an instrument in destruction, so you will kill Jarasandha by your presence, and Bhima will be the instrument. Just as you do this for the glorification of Brahma and Siva, so you will act in this way for the fame of Bhima.”

Though the devotees have already perfectly sung your glories in punishing the wicked and protecting the righteous, now, in killing of Jarasandha your glories will be even greater. This is expressed in this verse.

“The wives of the imprisoned kings sing of your splendid activities, in their houses while doing their jobs such as taking care of children. What are those activities? They sing about your future killing of Jarasandha and freeing of their husbands, having been informed of this by the omniscient sages. “O child, do not cry. Krsna, after killing Jarasandha will free your father.” An example is given. It is just as the gopis console themselves by singing about the killing of your enemy Sankhacuda, and liberating them from his confinement. “O friends, be calm. Do not give up your lives by crying endlessly. He, an ocean of mercy, who protected us from the devouring tiger called Sankhacuda, remembering us, will protect us from the bite of snake of time, bringing great calamity in separation from him. And just as these wives are to be protected by killing Jarasandha and uniting them with their husbands, after completely the Raja suya sacrifice, on returning you should secretly go to Braja and protect the gopis by giving them your company. Then we and others will sing your glories.”

Having taken the opportunity, Uddhava gave this advice that was in his mind. “Moreover just as the wives and gopis sing about you, the sages who have surrendered to you, the self satisfied devotees and we, your servant devotees, also sing, having relished your friendship. What is that ? You killed the crocodile, the enemy of the king of elephants, and liberated the elephant. You killed Ravana, enemy of Sita, and Kamsa enemy of your parents, and freed Sita and your parents. O fellow tapasvis, do not lament. Just as he delivered Gajendra from the crocodile, or Sita from Ravana, or Vasudeva and Devaki from Kamsa, he will also deliver us from the material bondage. O friends, just as, after delivering them, he awarded desired service to Gajendra and others with closeness to himself, he will also give us similar service.”

“By killing Jarasandh we get great gains, in performing the rajasuya sacrifice, rescuing the kings, easily killing Sisupal and others which you desire, and also accomplishing what I have just hinted at. This sacrifice is approved by you, is it not, (prayah) because with its completion (paka), there will be the breaking of pride of Durydhana and the consequent destruction of the Kuru dynasty (vipaka).” Medina says that paka can mean accomplishment or a baby. Vipaka can mean cooking, perspiration, opposite result in activity. Uddhava here used words whose meaning was difficult to understand in order that the Yadavas and Kauravas could not understand.

Alternate reading papa vipakena means ”You approve this because it will bring the destruction of the sinful persons like Sisupala and others.”

Narada, Krsna and the elder Yadavas approved of Uddahvas words which were faultess (acyuta) because of conclusive arguments. The elder Yadus approved, but the hint here is that Aniruddha and others younger Yadus, wanting to have war immediately, did not approve.

12.Taking permission from the elders such as Vasudeva, Krsna ordered his servants to prepare for departure.

Having his wives (avarodhan), he mounted his chariot. They went because they also were invited and were eager to attend.

14 Bhattah means infantry. Sadinah means cavalry. Nayakah means those in chariots. .

Kakubha in feminine form is also seen sometimes.

The queens, in carts drawn by men, on horses and in palanquins, faithful to their husband (suvratah), followed after (anu yayuh) Acyuta, their husband.

Female servants such as washerwomen went, tying firmly on the camels household goods (upaskara) such as houses made of usira grass.

During the day glittering with the suns rays, the army with weapons, crowns and jewels looked splendid.

Narada departed (verb is missing but understood) by the path of the sky (vihayasa).

The Lord said to the messenger, “Do not fear. I will kill Jarasandha.” The phrase “Do do not fear (ma bhaista)” is in the plural because he is addressing all of the kings.

They waited for Krsna (pratyaiksan for pratyaksanta, for their benefit).

Krsna, passing through Anarta, Sauvira, Maru and Kuruksetra (vinasanam), crossed mountains, rivers, cities, villages, pastures and quarries.

As the senses go out to meet the life air, Yudisthira went out to meet Krsna.

He embrace with his arms the limbs of Mukunda, which were the shelter of beauty (rama) and faultlessness (amalam). By this he forgot all worldly pleasure (vismrta loka vibhramah), being submerged in the bliss of prema beyond the material realm.

The city is described in two verses. Each house was splendid (virajamanam)with colorful flags, with full water pots and gold gateways, with decorated men and women, decorated (justam) with rows of lamps and flowers, pleasing with incense streaming from the lattice windows. Krsna saw the city where there were many palaces and houses of of the king of the kurus.

The women are like stars accompanying the moon (udupa sahah).

The heads of the various communities with particular crafts (sreni mukhyah) worshiped the Lord.

Overcome with joy, the king did not know the proper way of worshipping.

Draupadi (krsnya) and Subhadra then welcomed Krsna.

Encouraged by Kunti her mother in law (svasva), Draupadi worshiped the queens.

Yudhisthira arranged for Krsna stay there in such a way that each day became a new experience.

Krsna resided there, and liberated Maya danava from the fire so that he could build the assembly hall. Those previous events related in the fifty eighth chapter, rescuing maya and his building the assembly hall, are here repeated because of absorption in the topic. The order is as follows: he burned the Khanda forest, got Arjuna the Gandiva bow, obtained Kalini while hunting, while staying at Indraprastha for four months of the monsoon. Then Krsna returned to Dvaraka, married Kalini, Bhadra and other queens, killed Naraka and other performed other deeds. Then he was invited to the rajasuya sacrifice.