The Purana Index v1.c5.s10.278

v1.c5.s10.278

Jarāsandha (1)—born to Bṛhadratha in two parts and cast away by the mother. Jarā (s.v.) joined them together, saying in sport ‘Live, Live’. It was Jarāsandha. He was father of Sahadeva.¹ King of Magadha and father-in-law of Kaṃsā who married his daughters Asti and Prāpti; acted as Kaṃsā’s guru in his wicked plans. Heard of Kaṃsā’s death from his widowed daughters and resolved to destroy all the Yādavas. He besieged Mathurā with twenty-three akṣauhinis, stationing at the four gates king of Kalinga and others. Drums were sounded as a call to arms. Told Kṛṣṇa that he was a boy unfit to fight him and asked Rāma to meet him in battle. Rāma challenged him on the western gate. Finding all his army followers killed, Jarāsandha attacked Rāma. When the latter was about to bind him with ropes, Kṛṣṇa asked that he be set free. Jarāsandha went home greatly distressed. Three months after, Jarāsandha collected another huge army of twenty-three akṣauhiṇīs, encamped at Yamunā banks and slept that night. Kṛṣṇa divided his army into three divisions and attacked the enemy on all sides by surprise. All Jarāsandha's followers took to flight leaving all their belongings which were presented to Ugrasena.