Jarasanthan and his death.

Jarasanthan was a very powerful and valiant king who defeated many kings and dethroned them and jailed them and had their countries under him.

After becoming the King of Indhra Prastha, Pandavas ruled it very ably and with justice and hence people loved them and supported them. So the near and dear ones of Udhishtra wanted him to do Rajasooya yagam which could make him the undisputed king of all the kings. So Yudhishtra sent word for Krishna to come and advice him in this.

Krishna came from Dwaraka and when told  about Yudhishtra doing the Rajasooya yagam, explained to him that Jarasanthan is the ruling king of all and is the most powerful king and until and unless he was defeated and  killed nobody could carry out the Rajasooya Yagam. He also told Yudhishtra that Jarasanthan was supported by powerful kings like Sisubala.

Krishna also said that he and Balarama fought Jarasanthan for three continuous years but were defeated and had to move away from  their 'Mathura' city and had to go to 'Dwaraka' where they were settled now. So Yudhishra has to kill Jarasanthan and release all the kings whom he has jailed. Then only he could carry out  Rajasooya yagam.

Initially Yudhishtra was not agreeing to this proposal of attacking Jarasanthan as even lord Krishna could not kill him, but Bheem encouraged him and persuaded him saying that he, Arjun and Krishna could kill and subdue Jarasanthan with their powers and abilities. Finally Yudhishtra agreed to this after Krishna and Arjun also sided with Bheem saying the combined strength of all the three could defeat Jarasanthan.

In those times a Kshtriya has to accept duels from another one and has to fight. Bheem, Arjun and Krishna reached the state of Jarasanthan. Since they went in disguise Jarasanthan thought they were  some sages and received them and offered them rest and shelter. Bheem and Arjun did not speak and Krishna explained their silence to a vow and that they would speak only in the night.

In the night Jarasantham visited them and the three told him that they had come to fight him and he could select one of them to fight. Jarasanthan discarded Krishna as a Yadava (Sheppard) and Arjun too young and hence agreed to fight Bheem.

Bheem and Jarasanthan fought for thirteen days without food or rest. On the fourteenth day Jarasanthan was tired. Then Krishna told Bheem to kill him. Bheem took Jarasanthan over his head , rotated him and tore his body into two. but the two parts of body again joined and Jarasanthan started fighting. Bheem was disappointed. but Krishna took a piece if grass and tore it into two and reversed the parts and threw it. Seeing this Bheem took Jarasanthan into his hands and tore him into two and reversed the parts and threw it. The part of bodies could not join now and Jarasanthan died.

The Pandavas released all the jailed kings and Princes and celebrated their Rajasooya yagnam.