answered--"Blessed be thou, O king of kings. Capable of assuming any form
at will, I am a Rakshasa woman called Jara. I am living, O king, happily
in thy house, worshipped by all. Every day I wander from house to house of
men. Indeed, I was created of old by the Self-create and was named
Grihadevi (the household goddess). Of celestial beauty I was placed (in
the world) for the destruction of the Danavas. He that with devotion
painteth on the walls (of his house) a likeness of myself endued with
youth and in the midst of children, must have prosperity in his abode;
otherwise a household must sustain decay and destruction. O lord, painted
on the walls of thy house is a likeness of myself surrounded by numerous
children. Stationed there I am daily worshipped with scents and flowers,
with incense and edibles and various objects of enjoyment. Thus worshipped
in thy house, I daily think of doing thee some good in return. It chanced,
O virtuous king, that I beheld the fragmentary bodies of thy son. When
these happened to be united by me, a living child was formed of them. O
great king, it hath been so owing to thy good fortune alone. I have been
only the instrument, I am capable of swallowing the mountain of Meru
itself, what shall I say of the child? I have, however, been gratified
with thee in consequence of the worship I receive in thy house. It is,
therefore, O king, that I have bestowed this child on thee."'

"Krishna continued,--'Having spoken these words, O king, Jara disappeared
there and then. The king having obtained the child then entered the palace.
And the king then caused all the rites of infancy to be performed on that
child, and ordered a festival to be observed by his people in honour of
that Rakshasa woman. And the monarch equal unto Brahma himself then
bestowed a name on his child. And he said that because the child had been
united by Jara, he should be called (Jarasandha i.e., united by Jara). And
the son of the king of Magadha endued with great energy, began to grow up
in bulk and strength like a fire into which hath been poured libation of