and where festivities were perennial. On arriving then at the gate of the
city, the brothers (instead of passing through it) began to pierce (with
their shafts) the heart of the high Chaityaka peak that was worshipped by
the race of Vrihadratha, as also by the citizens and which delighted the
hearts of all the Magadhas. There Vrihadratha had slain a cannibal called
Rishava and having slain the monster made of his hide three drums which he
placed in his own city. And those drums were such that once beaten their
sound lasted one full month. And the brothers broke down the Chaityaka
peak that was delightful to all the Magadhas, at that point where those
drums covered with celestial flowers used to yield their continuous sound.
And desirous of slaying Jarasandha they seemed by that act of theirs to
place their feet upon the head of their foe. And attacking with their
mighty arms that immovable and huge and high and old and celebrated peak
always worshipped with perfumes and floral wreaths, those heroes broke it
down. And with joyful hearts they then entered the city. And it so
happened that the learned Brahmanas residing within the city saw many evil
omens which they reported to Jarasandha. And the priest making the king
mount an elephant whirled lighted brands about him. And king Jarasandha
also, possessed of great prowess, with a view to warding of those evils,
entered upon the celebration of a sacrifice, with proper vows and fasts.
Meanwhile, O Bharata, the brothers unarmed, or rather with their bare arms
as their only weapons, desirous of fighting with Jarasandha, entered the
capital in the guise of Brahmanas. They beheld the extraordinary beauty of
the shops full of various edibles and floral wreaths, and supplied with
articles of every variety of various qualities that man can desire. Those
best of men, Krishna, Bhima, and Dhananjaya, beholding in those shops
their affluence, passed along the public road. And endued with great
strength they snatched forcibly from the flower-vendors the garlands they
had exposed for sale. And attired in robes of various colours and decked
in garlands and ear-rings the heroes entered the abode of Jarasandha