SLAUGHTER OF SHISHUPAALA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > SHISHUPAALA PARVA > CHAPTER 44 - SLAUGHTER OF SHISHUPAALA

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Bhishma, the ruler of Chedi (Shishupaala) filled with exceeding prowess, desirous of combating with Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna) addressed Him and said, ‘O Janaardana (Sri Krishna), I challenge You. Come, fight with me until I slay You today with all the Paandavaas. For, O (Sri) Krishna, the Paandavaas also, who disregarding the claims of all these kings, have worshipped You who is no king, deserve to be slain by me along with You. This is my opinion, O (Sri) Krishna, that they who from childishness have worshipped You, as if You deserve it, although You are unworthy of worship, being only a slave, a wretch (Durmati in Sanskrit) and no king, deserve to be slain by me.’

“Having said this, that tiger among kings (Shishupaala) stood there roaring in anger. After Shishupaala had stopped, (Sri) Krishna addressing all the kings in the presence of the Paandavaas, spoke these words in a soft voice, ‘O kings, this wicked-minded one (Shishupaala), who is the son of a daughter of the Saatwata race, is a great enemy of us of the Saatwata race; and though we never seek to injure him, he always seeks our evil. This wretch of cruel actions (Shishupaala), O kings, hearing that we had gone to the city of Praagjyotisha (present-day Guwahati, Assam, India), came and burnt Dwaraka, although he is the son of my father’s sister. While king Bhoja was sporting on the Raivataka hill (present-day Girnar mountain, Junagarh district, Gujarat, India), this one (Shishupaala) fell upon the attendants of that king, slew and led away many of them in chains to his own city. Sinful in all his purpose, this wretch, in order to obstruct the sacrifice of my father, stole the yagna horse of the ashwamedha (yagna) that had been let loose under the guard of armed men.

“Prompted by sinful motives, this one (Shishupaala) carried away the reluctant wife of the innocent Babhru (Akrura) on her way from Dwaraka to the country of the Sauveeras. This injurer of his maternal uncle (Shishupaala), disguising himself in the attire of the king of Karoosha, also carried away the innocent Bhadra, the princess of Vishaala, the intended bride of king Karoosha. I have patiently beared all these sorrows for the sake of my father’s sister. It is, however, very fortunate that all this has occurred today in the presence of all the kings. You all today saw the hostility this one (Shishupaala) bears towards me. You also know all that he has done me at my back. For the excess of that pride in which he has indulged in the presence of all these monarchs, he deserves to be slain by me. I am not able to pardon today the injuries that he has done me. Desirous of speedy death, this fool had desired Rukmini. But the fool did not obtain her, like a Shoodra failing to obtain the hearing of the Vedas.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Vaasudeva, all the assembled monarchs began to criticise the ruler of Chedi (Shishupaala). But the powerful Shishupaala, having heard these words, laughed aloud and spoke thus, ‘O (Sri) Krishna, are You not ashamed in saying in this assembly, especially before all these kings that Rukmini (Your wife) had been coveted by me? O Madhusoodana (Sri Krishna), who else is there than You, who regarding Himself a man would say in the middle of respectable men that his wife had been intended for some body else? O (Sri) Krishna, forgive me if You please, or forgive me not. But angry or friendly, what can You do to me?’

“While Shishupaala was speaking thus, the noble Madhusoodana (Sri Krishna) thought in His mind of the chakra that humbles the pride of the Asuras. As soon as the chakra came into His hands, skilled in speech the illustrious one (Sri Krishna) loudly uttered these words, ‘Listen O lords of earth, why this one had previously been pardoned by me. As asked by his mother, a hundred offences (of his) were to be forgiven by me. This was the boon she had asked, and this I granted her. That number, O kings, has become full. I shall now slay him in your presence, O monarchs.’ Having said this, the chief of the Yadus, that slayer of all enemies, in anger, instantly cut off the head of the ruler of Chedi (Shishupaala) by means of His chakra. The mighty-armed one (Shishupaala) fell down like a cliff struck with Vajra.

“O monarch (Janamejaya), the assembled kings then saw a fierce energy (Tejas in Sanskrit), like to the Sun in the sky, issue out of the body of the king of Chedi, and O king (Janamejaya), that energy then adored (Sri) Krishna, possessed of eyes like lotus leaves and worshipped by all the worlds, and entered His body. All the kings seeing the energy which entered that mighty-armed chief of men (Sri Krishna) regarded it as wonderful. When (Sri) Krishna had slain the king of Chedi (Shishupaala), the sky, though cloudless, poured showers of rain, and blasting thunders were hurled, and the earth itself began to tremble. There were some among the kings who spoke not a word during those unspeakable moments but merely sat gazing at Janaarddana. Some there were that rubbed in anger their palms with their forefingers. There were others who deprived of reason by anger bit their lips with their teeth. Some among the kings applauded him of the Vrishni race (Sri Krishna) in private. Some there were that became excited with anger; while others became mediators. The Maharishis with pleased hearts praised Keshava (Sri Krishna) and went away. All the Mahatma Brahmanas and the mighty kings that were there, seeing (Sri) Krishna’s prowess, became glad at heart and praised him.

“Yudhishthira then commanded his brothers to perform without delay the funeral rites of king Shishupaala, the brave son of Damaghosha, with proper respect. The Paandavaas obeyed the instruction of their brother. Yudhishthira then, with all the kings, installed the son of king Shishupaala in the sovereignty of the Chedis.

“Then that (Raajasooya) yagna, O monarch (Janamejaya), of the king of the Kurus (Yudhishthira) possessed of great energy, blessed with every kind of prosperity, became exceedingly handsome and pleasing to all young men. Commenced auspiciously, and all obstacles removed, and furnished with abundance of wealth and corn, as also with plenty of rice and every kind of food, it was properly watched by Keshava (Sri Krishna). Yudhishthira in due time completed the great (Raajasooya) yagna. The mighty-armed Janaarddana (Sri Krishna), the noble Shauri (Sri Krishna), with His bow called Shaaranga and His chakra and mace (Gada in Sanskrit), guarded that yagna till its completion. All the Kshatriya monarchs, having approached the Dharmaraja Yudhishthira who had bathed (Snaana in Sanskrit) after the conclusion of the yagna, said these words: ‘By good fortune you have come out successful. O Dharmic one, you have obtained the imperial dignity (Saamraajyam in Sanskrit). O you of the Ajameeda race (Yudhishthira), by you has been spread the fame of your whole race. O king of kings, by this act of yours, you have also acquired great merit of Dharma. We have been worshipped by you to the full extent of our desires. We now tell you that we are desirous of returning to our own kingdoms. It is your duty to grant us permission.’

“Hearing these words of the monarchs, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, worshipping each as he deserved, commanded his brothers, saying, ‘These monarchs had all come to us at their own pleasure. These punisheres of enemies are now desirous of returning to their own kingdoms, bidding me farewell. Blessed be you, you follow these excellent kings to the confines of our own territories.’

“Hearing these words of their brother, the virtuous Paandavaa princes followed the kings, one after another as each deserved. The powerful Dhrishtadyumna followed without loss of time king Virata; Dhananjaya (Arjuna) followed the illustrious and mighty charioteer Yagnasena (Drupada); the mighty Bhimasena followed Bhishma and Dhritarashtra; Sahadeva, that great charioteer, followed the brave Drona and his son; and Nakula, O king (Janamejaya), followed Subala with his son; and the sons of Draupadi with the son of Subhadra followed those mighty warriors – the kings of the mountainous countries. Other bulls among Kshatriyas followed other Kshatriyas. The Brahmanas by thousands also went away, duly worshipped.

“After all the Kings and the Brahmanas had gone away, the powerful Vaasudeva addressing Yudhishthira said, ‘O son of the Kuru race, with your leave, I also desire to go to Dwaraka. By great good fortune, you have accomplished the foremost of yagnas – Raajasooya!’ Thus addressed by Janaarddana, Yudhishthira replied, ‘Owing to Your grace, O Govinda (Sri Krishna), I have accomplished the great yagna. It is owing to Your grace that the whole Kshatriya world having accepted my rule, had come here with valuable tribute. O hero (Sri Krishna), without You, my heart never feels any delight. How can I, therefore, O hero, give You, O sinless one, leave to go? But You must have to go to the city of Dwaraka.’

“The Dharmic Hari of worldwide fame, thus addressed by Yudhishthira, cheerfully went with His relative to Pritha (Kunti) and said, ‘O aunt, your sons have now obtained the imperial dignity (Saamraajyam in Sanskrit). They have obtained vast wealth and been also crowned with success. Be pleased with all this. Commanded by you, O aunt, I desire to go to Dwaraka.’

“After this, Keshava gave farewell to Draupadi and Subhadra. Coming out then of the inner apartments accompanied by Yudhishthira, He performed His bathing and went through the daily rites of worship, and then made the Brahmanas utter blessing. Then the mighty armed Daaruka came there with a chariot of excellent design and body resembling the clouds. Looking that Garuda-bannered charito arrived there, the high-souled one (Mahamana in Sanskrit), with eyes like lotus leaves, walked round it respectfully and ascending on it set out for Dwaravati (present-day Dwaraka, Gujarat, India). Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, blessed with prosperity, accompanied by his brothers, followed on foot the mighty Vaasudeva. Then Hari with eyes like lotus leaves, stopping that best of chariots for a moment, addressing Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, said, ‘O king of kings, you cherish your subjects with ceaseless vigilance and patience. As the clouds are to all creatures, as the large tree of spreading branches is to birds, as He of a thousand eyes (Lord Indra) is to the immortals (Devas), you be the refuge and support of your relatives.’

“(Sri) Krishna and Yudhishthira having thus talked to each other took each other’s leave and returned to their respective homes. O king (Janamejaya), after the chief of the Saatwata race (Sri Krishna) had gone to Dwaravati (present-day Dwaraka, Gujarat, India), king Duryodhana alone, with king Subala’s son – Shakuni – these bulls among men  - continued to live in that divine sabha.’”