brave Akriti was like Rama, the son of Jamdagni, hath become a servitor to
the king of Magadha. We are his relatives and are, therefore, engaged
everyday in doing what is agreeable unto him. But although we regard him
much, still he regardeth us not and is engaged in doing us ill. And, O
king, without knowing his own strength and the dignity of the race to
which he belongeth, he hath placed himself under Jarasandha's shelter at
sight of the latter's blazing fame alone. And, O exalted one, the eighteen
tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of Jarasandha, have all fled towards the
west; so also have the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas,
the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along
with the Kuntis. And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren
and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all
fled to the country of the Kuntis. So also the Matsyas and the
Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, leaving their dominions in the north,
have fled into the southern country. And so all the Panchalas, alarmed at
the power of Jarasandha, have left their own kingdom and fled in all
directions. Some time before, the foolish Kansa, having persecuted the
Yadavas, married two of the daughters of Jarasandha. They are called Asti
and Prapti and are the sister of Sahadeva. Strengthened by such an
alliance, the fool persecuting his relatives gained an ascendency over
them all. But by this conduct he earned great obloquy. The wretch also
began to oppress the old kings of the Bhoja tribe, but they, to protect
themselves from the persecution of their relative, sought our help. Having
bestowed upon Akrura the handsome daughter of Ahuka, with Sankarshana as
my second I did a service to my relatives, for both Kansa and Sunaman were
slain by me assisted by Rama. But after the immediate cause of fear was
removed (by the death of Kansa), Jarasandha, his father-in-law, took up
arms. Ourselves consisting of the eighteen younger branches of the Yadavas
arrived at the conclusion that even if we struck our enemies continually
with excellent weapons capable of taking the lives of the foes, we should