Efforts of Bhishmaka to appease Shri Krishna

Vaishampayana said: О Janamejaya, at the words of the adorable Sunltha, the valorous king Dantavaktra of Kurusa country known as Dantavaktra, started his speech.

Dantavaktra said: О kings, whatever has been spoken by Magadharaja and the king Sunitha, I beleive their words to be quite appropriate and are beneficial for us.

I am not going to find fault with the words spoken by you either out of jealousy or the hope for victory or being arrogant.

Who is the person in this assembly who speaks according to the scriptures on polity filled with virtues and merits?

But I am going to remind you of the duty which should be listened by you. О kings, Shri Krishna has arrived here. Then what is the surprise in it?

Shri Krishna has arrived here in the same way as we have arrived here. What is the merit or the harm in it? The only purpose of the arrival of all of us is to get the girl.

All of us uniting had surrounded the Gomantaka mountain, and in case the situation of a war arises here, then how can you find fault with it?

О king, both Balarama and Shri Krishna were living in the forest in order to confuse Kamsa. They lived at the end of Vrindavana. But both the brothers had been summoned by Kamsa and the advice of Narada to get them killed. With the attack by the mad elephant Кuvalaydpidha, he incited their anger. Under those circumstances both Balarama and Krishna entered the wrestling ground killing Kuvalayapidha elephant. Thereafter in case both the brothers killed Kamsa, who was sitting there like a dead person, with his other companions, then how could they be blamed. О king, similarly in case, after killing Kamsa, in case Krishna and Balarama, opposed the matured persons like us, then in that case if we all surrounded the city of Mathura, then what was the harm there?

Both Balarama and Krishna were frightened at the sight of our huge army and leaving their city and the army both of them reached the Gomantaka mountain.

Thereafter, we the warriors who fight war in the battle field, attacked both of them there as well. Both of them had not yet reached the youthful age and therefore they fought the war on foot. Therefore we did not fight with them with the fourfold army. To the contrary, following the Ksatriya dharma, we surrounded the Gomantaka mountain and put it to flames.

All of us — the Ksatriya warriors had thought that these boys shall reap the reward for their impertinence. Under these circumstances in case both brothers fought revengefully, then how could we blame Janardana. (whatever he did was correct.)

(Becoming inimical to Shri Krishna) Wherever shall we go, the struggle is sure to start. Therefore, О kings, let us try to develop love for Shri Krishna.

Shri Krishna has not arrived at Kundanpur for the waging of war. In case he has arrived here for the sake of getting the girl, then with whom shall he fight?

He is not at all a normal human being. He is an excellent person on the earth. He is also Purusottama among the gods of the heaven.

He is the creator of the gods as well as the entire universe. He does not possess uncivilised wisdom. He does not possess jealousy or arrogance in his mind.

He is neither harsh nor weak. He also does not suffer from any ailment or grief. He is the one who always removes the pain of those who take refuge m him. Shri Krishna is Visnu incarnate and is the god of gods.

Presently he has arrived here with Garuda in order to display his hidden form. Shri Krishna, for the destruction of the enemies, always moves carrying various types of weapons with him. But his present journey should not be viewed in that light. Presently Shri Hari has arrived accompanied with the Yadava warriors of Andhaka, Bhoja and Vrsni dynasties.

Therefore, О kings, let us welcome Mahatma Kesava, offering him, arghya and water for sipping.

Thus negotiating with Shri Krishna let him stay here getting free of struggle, fright and anxiety.”

Hearing to the intelligent words of the wise Dantavaktra, Salva the excellent orator, addressed the kings.

Salva said — ”0 kings, if this be the case, then should we, dropping all the weapons, because of the arrived of Krishna, get disarmed? With the peace, it appears that all the rulers have been frightened because of Krishna, trembling at the same time.

By denouncing one’s own prowess and by praising others, is of what use? This is not the dharma of the people of Ksatriya race.

The rulers, having been born in high race and enhanced the prestige of their race, how could such a cowardly, thought enter their brain?

I am well aware of the fact, that Shri Krishna is the lord of gods, the eternal purusa. He is the form of Narayana.

He is invincible in the universe, is the Hon of Vaikuntha, the preceptor of mobile and immobile, adorable by the universe, who has incarnated on earth, in order to remove her burden, for the killing of Kamsa, for our destruction and for the protection of all the lokas, has been born from the womb of Devaki. Therefore, I am fully aware of his performance as the full incarnation of Visnu.

Therefore, of kings, all of us, by waging a war with Visnu, getting reduced to ashes, with the use of his cakra shall make us proceed to the abode of yama.

О kings, I am aware of the tattva that the life ends with the arrival of death. Till such time the destiny ordains, no one can die. On the arrival of death, no one can survive.

Keeping this firmly in mind, no one should be afraid of anyone. The same Visnu, finding the decline of the tapas of the Daityas, destroys them at the appropriate time.

The same lord of gods, Bali — the son of Virocana, who could not be killed by anyone, was bound by him and despatched to the neither world.

О kings, the performance of lord Visnu is of similar type. Therefore all of you should not think of war.

Shri Krishna has not arrived here for waging a war. Whomsoever is accepted by the royal princess, he will be her husband. There is no cause of quarrel. All the kings should maintain the mental love and affection.”

Viasampayana said: О Janamejaya, with the speeches of the intelligent kings, the king Bhismaka, could not speak out because of his son.

He (son of Bhismaka) remained arrogant because of his prowess. He was protected by the Bhargava weapon. He was a great warrior, who could display his enormous stregth in the war. Then Bhismaka, mentally thinking about his son, thus spoke.

Bhismaka said: “My son is quite proud of his prowess beings arrogant. He is unable to bear the influence of Shri Krishna and is fearless in war and is unafraid of anyone.

There is no doubt that the girl will be kidnapped with the strength of arms of Shri Krishna. At that point of time, a terrific struggle and the great war is going to be fought.

Under such circumstances, how can my son, who is inimical to Shri Krishna remain alive. Therefore, I do not anticipate that the life of my son can be saved at the hands of Shri Krishna.

How can I allow my eldest son to fight with Shri Krishna, for the sake of my daughter?

The mind of Rukmini is filled with foolishness. Therefore, my son does not want Narayana to be the husband of my daughter Rukmini. He remains intoxicated because of his strength and is therefore never averse to the war. As the heap of cotton is burnt out with a spark, similarly, he (my son) would surely be reduced to ashes, by coming in conflict with Shri Krishna.

The king Shrigala of Kavavlrapur, who was well versed in waging various types of wars, was reduced to ashes, by Kesava in a moment.

When Kesava — the foremost of the valorous people, while living in Vrndavana, lifted up the mountain Govardhana, over one hand and remained in the same position for a week. Having been reminded of his prowess thus displayed, my heart is fading out or fatigued.

At that point of time, Indra the killer of Vrtrasura and the husband of Saci, suddenly arrived at the mountain Govardhana and consecrated Krishna over the position of cows as Govinda. He was then addersed as Upendra.

The serpent Kaliya who lived in the Kunda of the Yamuna, illuminated with the poison flames, appeared like the god of death. But the way in which, the said serpent was subjugated, is well known to all.

The demon horse known by the name of Kesl lived in the form of a horse. He was invincible by the gods even. But he also was killed at the hands of Vasudeva.

He got back the son of Sandipani, his preceptor who had died long back, from the ocean, killing the Daitya named Pancajanya.

A great war was fought over the Gomantaka mountain in which both the brothers were surrounded by several kings. Both the valorous sons of Vasudeva, displayed enormous strength in which the herds of elephants fought with herds of elephants, cavalrymen with cavalrymen, the warriors mounted over the chariots with the chariot warriors, and foot soldiers with the foot soldiers.

Even the gods, asuras, Gandharvas, Yaksas, serpents, Raksasas, Nagas, Daityas, Pisacas and the Guhyakas had never destroyed in the war such a large number of elephants, horses, and the chariots. My mind, getting reminded of that war, is getting fatigued.

Except the lord Vasudeva, I have never witnessed or heard about such a person on earth.

The valorous Dantavaktra is correct when he says that we should first appease lord Krishna and then do whatever is proper.”

Vaishampayana said: О Janamejaya, thus mentally thinking about his strength and short comings, the king Bhishmaka, resolved to go to Shri Krishna, in order to appease him.

Then he consulted with several of the ministers, who were well versed in polity, the king Bhishmaka and other rulers went to sleep for the night. They woke up in the morning listening to the recitations of welfare songs of the bards, minstrels, and panegyrist.

After the night, at dawn, then the rulers, after performing their daily routine, set in their respective rest horses.

The rulers had sent their princes to the city of Vidarbha, returned and conveyed their findings to their respective monarchs in confidence.

Learning about the crowning of Shri Krsija some of the rulers, felt extremely delighted, while others felt miserable, frightened and sad, still others felt unconcerned.

Thus the armies were influenced with the news of the crowning of Shri Krishna like the disturbing of the great ocean.

Then Bhishmaka — the best of the rulers, finding the division among the rulers and taking into consideration the unthinkable | sin committed by him, went to the group of rulers in order to advise them suitably.

In the mean time the messengers of Indra reached before the king Kratha and Kausika. Then lowering their heads handed them over a letter. Then they got absorbed in the group of rulers like the ocean.

Here ends chapter — 49, of the Visnu Parva of the Harivamsa Purana, a khilabhaga of the epic of Mahabharata, relating to the efforts of Bhishmaka to appease Shri Krishna. (Vrs. 1-67, P.T. = 5703) '

Chapter 50

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