KINGS TURN AGAINST SRI KRISHNA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > ARGHYAHARANA PARVA > CHAPTER 38 - KINGS TURN AGAINST SRI KRISHNA

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘The mighty Bhishma stopped having said thus. Sahadeva then answered (Shishupaala) in words of grave meaning saying, ‘If among you there be any king that cannot bear to see Keshava (Sri Krishna) of dark colour, the slayer of Keshi, the possessor of immeasurable energy, worshipped (Poojyamaanam in Sanskrit) by me, this my foot is placed on the heads of all mighty ones (like him). When I say this, let that one give me an adequate reply. Let those kings that possess intelligence approve the worship of (Sri) Krishna who is the Aachaarya, the father, the guru, and deserves the Arghya and the worship (already offered to Him).’

“When Sahadeva thus showed his foot, no one among those intelligent, wise, proud and mighty monarchs said anything. A shower of flowers fell on Sahadeva's head, and a non-physical voice said ‘Excellent, excellent.’ Then Naaradaa dressed in black deer-skin, speaking of both the future and the past, that dispeller of all doubts, fully familiar with all the worlds, said in the middle of innumerable creatures, these words of the clear meaning ‘Those men that will not worship the lotus-eyed (Sri) Krishna should be regarded as dead (even) though moving, and should never be talked to on any occasion.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Then that god among men, Sahadeva consicious of the distinction between a Brahmana and a Kshatriya, having worshipped those that deserved worship, completed that ceremony. But upon (Sri) Krishna having received the first worship, Suneetha (Shishupaala) that one who cuts down enemies – with eyes red as copper from anger, addressed those rulers of men and said, ‘When I am here to head you all, what are you thinking of now? Together let us stand in battle against the assembled Vrishnis and the Paandavaas?’

“The bull of the Chedis (Shishupaala), having thus stirred the kings up, began to consult with them how to obstruct the completion of the yagna. All the invited monarchs who had come to the yagna, with Suneetha (Shishupaala) as their chief, looked angry and their faces became pale. They all said, ‘We must so act that the final sacrificial rite (Abhishekam in Sanskrit) performed by Yudhishthira and the worship of Krishna may not be regarded as having been accepted in by us.’

“Driven by a belief in their power and great assurance, the kings, deprived of reason through anger, began to say this. Being moved by self-confidence and vuring under the insult offered to them, the monarchs repeatedly exclaimed thus. Though their friends sought to calm them, their faces glowed with anger like those of roaring lions driven away from their preys. (Sri) Krishna then understood that the vast sea of monarchs with its countless waves of troops was preparing for a terrific rush.’”