SECTION XLIV
(Sisupala-badha Parva Continued)
"Vaisampayana said,--Hearing these words of
Bhishma, the ruler of Chedi endued with exceeding prowess, desirous of
combating with Vasudeva addressed him and said,--O Janarddana, I challenge
thee. Come, fight with me until I slay thee today with all the Pandavas. For, O
Krishna, the sons of Pandu also, who disregarding the claims of all these
kings, have worshipped thee who art no king, deserve to be slain by me along
with thee. Even this is my opinion, O Krishna, that they who from childishness
have worshipped thee, as if thou deservest it, although thou art unworthy of
worship, being only a slave and a wretch and no king, deserve to be slain by
me.' Having said this, that tiger among kings stood there roaring in anger. And
after Sisupala had ceased, Krishna addressing all the kings in the presence of
the Pandavas, spoke these words in a soft voice.--'Ye kings, this wicked-minded
one, who is the son of a daughter of the Satwata race, is a great enemy of us
of the Satwata race; and though we never seek to injure him, he ever seeketh
our evil. This wretch of cruel deeds, ye kings, hearing that we had gone to the
city of Pragjyotisha, came and burnt Dwaraka, although he is the son of my
father's sister. While king Bhoja was sporting on the Raivataka hill, this one
fell upon the attendants of that king and 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 sacrificial horse of the
horse-sacrifice that had been let loose under the guard of armed men. Prompted
by sinful motives, this one ravished the reluctant wife of the innocent Vabhru
(Akrura) on her way from Dwaraka to the country of the Sauviras. This injurer
of his maternal uncle, disguising himself in the attire of the king of Karusha,
ravished also the innocent Bhadra, the princess of Visala, the intended bride
of king Karusha. I have patiently borne all these sorrows for the sake of my
father's sister. It is, however, very fortunate that all this hath occurred
today in the presence of all the kings. Behold ye all today the hostility this
one beareth towards me. And know ye also all that he hath done me at my back. For
the excess of that pride in which he hath indulged in the presence of all these
monarchs, he deserveth to be slain by me. I am ill able to pardon today the
injuries that he hath done me. Desirous of speedy death, this fool had desired
Rukmini. But the fool obtained her not, like a Sudra failing to obtain the
audition of the Vedas."
Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing these
words of Vasudeva, all the assembled monarchs began to reprove the ruler of
Chedi. But the powerful Sisupala, having heard these words, laughed aloud and
spoke thus,--'O Krishna, art thou not ashamed in saying in this assembly,
especially before all these kings that Rukmini (thy wife) had been coveted by
me? O slayer of Madhu, who else is there than thee, who regarding himself a man
would say in the midst of respectable men that his wife had been intended for
some body else? O Krishna, pardon me if thou pleasest, or pardon me not. But
angry or friendly, what canst thou do unto me?'
"And while Sisupala was speaking thus, the
exalted slayer of Madhu thought in his mind of the discus that humbleth the
pride of the Asuras. And as soon as the discus came into his hands, skilled in
speech the illustrious one loudly uttered these words,--'Listen ye lords of
earth, why this one had hitherto been pardoned by me. As asked by his mother, a
hundred offences (of his) were to be pardoned by me. Even this was the boon she
had asked, and even this I granted her. That number, ye kings, hath become
full. I shall now slay him in your presence, ye monarchs.' Having said this,
the chief of the Yadus, that slayer of all foes, in anger, instantly cut off
the head of the ruler of Chedi by means of his discus. And the mighty-armed one
fell down like a cliff struck with thunder. And, O monarch, the assembled kings
then beheld a fierce energy, like unto the sun in the sky, issue out of the
body of the king of Chedi, and O king, that energy then adored Krishna,
possessed of eyes like lotus leaves and worshipped by all the worlds, and
entered his body. And all the kings beholding the energy which entered that
mighty-armed chief of men regarded it as wonderful. And when Krishna had slain
the king of Chedi, 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 Janarddana. And some there were that rubbed in rage
their palms with their forefingers. And there were others who deprived of reason
by rage bit their lips with their teeth. And some amongst the kings applauded
him of the Vrishni race in private. And some there were that became excited
with anger; while others became mediators. The great Rishis with pleased hearts
praised Kesava and went away. And all the high-souled Brahmanas and the mighty
kings that were there, beholding Krishna's prowess, became glad at heart and
praised him.
"Yudhishthira then commanded his brothers to
perform without delay the funeral rites of king Sisupala, the brave son of
Damaghosha, with proper respect. The sons of Pandu obeyed the behest of their
brother. And Yudhishthira then, with all the kings, installed the son of king
Sisupala in the sovereignty of the Chedis.
"Then that sacrifice, O monarch, of the king
of the Kurus possessed of great energy, blessed with every kind of prosperity,
became exceedingly handsome and pleasing unto all young men. And commenced
auspiciously, and all impediments 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 Kesava. And Yudhishthira in due time completed the great
sacrifice. And the mighty-armed Janarddana, the exalted Sauri, with his bow
called Saranga and his discus and mace, guarded that sacrifice till its
completion. And all the Kshatriya monarchs, having approached the virtuous
Yudhishthira who had bathed after the conclusion of the sacrifice, said these
words: 'By good fortune thou hast come out successful. O virtuous one, thou
hast obtained the imperial dignity. O thou of the Ajamida race, by thee hath
been spread the fame of thy whole race. And, O king of kings, by this act of
thine, thou hast also acquired great religious merit. We have been worshipped
by thee to the full extent of our desires. We now tell thee that we are
desirous of returning to our own kingdoms. It behoveth thee to grant us
permission.'
"Hearing these words of the monarchs, king
Yudhishthira the just, worshipping each as he deserved, commanded his brothers,
saying, 'These monarchs had all come to us at their own pleasure. These
chastisers of foes are now desirous of returning to their own kingdoms, bidding
me farewell. Blest be ye, follow ye these excellent kings to the confines of
our own dominions.' Hearing these words of their brother, the virtuous Pandava
princes followed the kings, one after another as each deserved. The powerful
Dhrishtadyumna followed without loss of time king Virata: and Dhananjaya
followed the illustrious and mighty charioteer Yajnasena; and the mighty
Bhimasena followed Bhishma and Dhritarashtra: and Sahadeva, that master of
battle, followed the brave Drona and his son; and Nakula, O king, followed
Suvala with his son; and the sons of Draupadi with the son of Subhadra followed
those mighty warriors--the kings of the mountainous countries. And other bulls
among Kshatriyas followed other Kshatriyas. And the Brahmanas by thousands also
went away, duly worshipped.
"After all the Kings and the Brahmanas had
gone away, the powerful Vasudeva addressing Yudhishthira said,--'O son of the
Kuru race, with thy leave, I also desire to go to Dwaraka. By great good
fortune, thou hast accomplished the foremost of sacrifices--Rajasuya!' Thus
addressed by Janarddana, Yudhishthira replied, 'Owing to thy grace, O Govinda.
I have accomplished the great sacrifice. And it is owing to thy grace that the
whole Kshatriya world having accepted my sway, had come hither with valuable
tribute. O hero, without thee, my heart never feeleth any delight. How can I,
therefore, O hero, give thee, O sinless one, leave to go? But thou must have to
go to the city of Dwaraka.' The virtuous Hari of worldwide fame, thus addressed
by Yudhishthira, cheerfully went with his cousin to Pritha and said,--'O aunt,
thy sons have now obtained the imperial dignity. They have obtained vast wealth
and been also crowned with success. Be pleased with all this. Commanded by
thee, O aunt, I desire to go to Dwaraka.' After this, Kesava bade farewell to
Draupadi and Subhadra. Coming out then of the inner apartments accompanied by
Yudhishthira, he performed his ablutions and went through the daily rites of
worship, and then made the Brahmanas utter benedictions. Then the mighty armed
Daruka came there with a car of excellent design and body resembling the
clouds. And beholding that Garuda-bannered car arrived thither, the high-souled
one, with eyes like lotus leaves, walked round it respectfully and ascending on
it set out for Dwaravati. And king Yudhishthira the just, blessed with
prosperity, accompanied by his brothers, followed on foot the mighty Vasudeva.
Then Hari with eyes like lotus leaves, stopping that best of cars for a moment,
addressing Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, said,--'O king of kings, cherishest
thou thy subjects with ceaseless vigilance and patience. And as the clouds are
unto all creatures, as the large tree of spreading bough is unto birds, as he
of a thousand eyes is unto the immortals, be thou the refuge and support of thy
relatives. And Krishna and Yudhishthira having thus talked unto each other took
each other's leave and returned to their respective homes. And, O king, after
the chief of the Satwata race had gone to Dwaravati, king Duryodhana alone,
with king Suvala's son, Sakuni,--these bulls among men,--continued to live in
that celestial assembly house.
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