unto the gods is never seen. Why dost thou, therefore, seek to perform a
sacrifice unto god Sankara by slaughtering human beings? Thou art
addressing persons belonging to thy own order as animals (fit for
sacrifice)! Fool as thou art, who else, O Jarasandha, is capable of
behaving in this way? One always obtaineth the fruits of whatever acts one
performeth under whatever circumstances. Therefore, desirous as we are of
helping all distressed people, we have, for the prosperity of our race,
come hither to slay thee, the slaughterer of our relatives. Thou thinkest
that there is no man among the Kshatriyas (equal to thee). This, O king,
is a great error of judgment on thy part. What Kshatriya is there, O king,
who endued with greatness of soul and recollecting the dignity of his own
parentage, would not ascend to eternal heaven that hath not its like
anywhere, falling in open fight? Know O bull among men, that Kshatriyas
engage themselves in battle, as persons installed in sacrifices, with
heaven in view, and vanquish the whole world! Study of the Vedas, great
fame, ascetic penances, and death in battle, are all acts that lead to
heaven. The attainment of heaven by the three other acts may be uncertain,
but death in battle hath that for its certain consequence. Death in battle
is the sure cause of triumph like Indra's. It is graced by numerous merits.
It is for this reason that he of a hundred sacrifices (Indra) hath become
what he is, and by vanquishing the Asuras he ruleth the universe.
Hostility with whom else than thee is so sure of leading to heaven, proud
as thou art of the excessive strength of thy vast Magadha host? Don't
disregard others, O king. Valour dwelleth in every man. O king of men,
there are many men whose valour may be equal or superior to thine. As long
as these are not known, so long only art thou noted for thy valour. Thy
prowess, O king, can be borne by us. It is, therefore, that I say so. O
king of Magadha, cast off thy superiority and pride in the presence of
those that are thy equals. Go not, O king, with thy children and ministers
and army, into the regions of Yama. Damvodhava, Kartavirya, Uttara, and