The Eleventh Skandha
The Mushala. XI. I.
Sri Krishna, with the help of Râma, the Yâdavas and the Pândavas, killed the Daityas, born as Kings. He made the Pândavas his instruments in the great war. When the Kings on both sides and their armies were killed, Sri Krishna thought within himself: — “The pressure is not yet all removed from the earth. For these powerful Yâdavas, backed by me, have become mad with power. I shall bring on disunion among them, which will be the cause of their death. Then I can have rest and may go to my own abode.”
Visvâ-mitra, Asita, Kanva, Durvâsas, Bhrigu, Angiras, Kasyapa, Vâmadeva, Atri, Vasistha, Nârada and other Rishis went to a sacred place called Pindaraka near Dvârâka. The Yadava boys were playing among themselves. They dressed Sâmba, son of Jâmbavati, as a girl and took him to the Rishis, saying she was pregnant and inquiring whether she would have a son or a daughter. The Rishis could not bear this impertinence and they said: — “O you fools, she will bring forth a Mushala (a pestle) that will be the ruin of your line.” The boys were terrified. Sâmba did produce an iron pestle. They took the pestle and went home. The boys related the story to all the Yâdavas. Âhuka, the chief of the clan, ordered the pestle to be ground down to powder and the powder to be thrown into the Sea. This was done, but a portion remained. That portion was also thrown into the Sea. A fish swallowed the iron piece. The fish was caught by a fisherman. He made two spears of the iron found in the fish. The powdered iron grains were carried by the waves to the coast and there they grew into reeds.