The Story of Jarasandha’s Birth: Krishna’s Narrative to Yudhishthira

Setting the Scene: The Need to Defeat Jarasandha

As Yudhishthira prepared for the Rajasuya Yajna, which would proclaim him as a sovereign ruler, Krishna advised him that he must first subdue all powerful kings in Bharatavarsha. Among these, Jarasandha, the mighty king of Magadha, was the most formidable. Jarasandha had established himself as a dominant ruler, and his strength and alliances made him a serious threat. Furthermore, he had captured and imprisoned many kings with the intention of sacrificing them in a ritual to please Shiva.

To help Yudhishthira understand Jarasandha’s power and the unusual circumstances surrounding his birth, Krishna recounted Jarasandha’s story in detail.

Jarasandha’s Parentage and Birth

Jarasandha was born to King Brihadratha of Magadha and his queen. King Brihadratha, although a noble and powerful ruler, had one unfulfilled desire: he was childless and longed for a successor to continue his lineage. He and his queen were deeply devoted and performed numerous austerities and sacrifices to please the gods, praying fervently for a son.

One day, a sage named Chandakaushika visited the kingdom, and Brihadratha, seizing the opportunity, served the sage with great devotion. Pleased with the king’s hospitality, the sage blessed him, saying, “You shall have a son.” As a token, the sage gave Brihadratha a mango fruit, instructing him to share it with his queen.

The king joyfully divided the mango in half, giving one half to his queen. The queen ate the mango, and in due course, she conceived. However, when the time came for the child’s birth, something strange and tragic happened. The queen gave birth not to a whole baby, but to two lifeless halves—a left half and a right half—each resembling part of an infant’s body. Both the king and queen were devastated, as they believed their wish for a child had been cruelly denied.

The Role of Jara, the Rakshasi

In their sorrow, King Brihadratha and his queen decided to dispose of the two halves of the baby’s body in the forest, thinking it was best to let go of their grief. They ordered the parts to be taken out and discarded in a desolate area.

Unknown to them, a rakshasi named Jara, who roamed the forest, came upon the two halves. Jara was curious about the strange pieces and felt a mysterious urge to place them together. When she aligned the two halves of the body, they magically fused into a complete, living baby boy. Overjoyed at this miracle, Jara took the child to King Brihadratha, presenting him as a whole, healthy baby.

The king and queen were astonished and filled with gratitude. They named the child Jarasandha after the rakshasi Jara who had “joined” (the meaning of sandha in Sanskrit) the two halves. The royal couple raised Jarasandha with love, though they remained aware that he had a unique and fated purpose.

Jarasandha’s Rise to Power

Jarasandha grew into a strong and formidable warrior, showing remarkable strength and skill from a young age. He trained rigorously in weaponry, politics, and warfare, quickly becoming known as one of the most powerful princes in Bharatavarsha. Upon ascending the throne of Magadha, he expanded his influence over the neighboring kingdoms, asserting his dominance through alliances and conquests.

Jarasandha forged powerful relationships with other rulers who shared his ambition and animosity toward the Yadavas, particularly Krishna. Over time, he amassed a formidable army and set his sights on becoming the most powerful ruler in the land. His desire for dominance was matched only by his devotion to Lord Shiva, whom he sought to please through an unusual ritual.

Jarasandha captured and imprisoned nearly a hundred kings with the intention of sacrificing them as an offering to Shiva. This cruel plan was meant to secure Jarasandha’s position as an invincible king, and it spread fear across Bharatavarsha. Krishna, aware of Jarasandha’s plan, knew that the time had come to stop him, not only to prevent the sacrifice but also to pave the way for Yudhishthira’s Rajasuya Yajna.

The Mission to Defeat Jarasandha

After narrating Jarasandha’s story to Yudhishthira, Krishna explained why Jarasandha must be defeated. His power was a threat to peace, and his ritual sacrifices went against the principles of dharma. Krishna proposed that he, along with Bhima and Arjuna, would journey to Magadha to confront Jarasandha and challenge him to a duel.

The plan was to approach Jarasandha in disguise, requesting a one-on-one combat. Krishna knew that Bhima, with his immense physical strength, would be able to defeat Jarasandha, as he was Jarasandha’s equal in power. Additionally, Jarasandha was known to be a generous host to Brahmins and guests, and it was likely that he would grant any request they made as guests in his palace.