Vaisampayana said,--"The mighty Bhishma ceased, having said this.
Sahadeva then answered (Sisupala) in words of grave import,
saying,--'If amongst ye there be any king that cannot bear to see
Kesava of dark hue, the slayer of Kesi, the possessor of immeasurable
energy, worshipped 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. And let those kings that possess intelligence approve
the worship of Krishna who is the preceptor, the father, the guru, and
deserveth the Arghya and the worship (already offered unto him).'
"When Sahadeva thus showed his foot, no one among those intelligent and
wise and proud and mighty monarchs said anything. And a shower of
flowers fell on Sahadeva's head, and an incorporeal voice
said--'Excellent, excellent.' Then Narada clad in black deer-skin,
speaking of both the future and the past, that dispeller of all doubts,
fully acquainted with all the worlds, said in the midst of innumerable
creatures, these words of the clearest import,--'Those men that will
not worship the lotus-eyed Krishna should be regarded as dead though
moving, and should never be talked to on any occasion.'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Then that god among men, Sahadeva cognisant
of the distinction between a Brahmana and a Kshatriya, having
worshipped those that deserved worship, completed that ceremony. But
upon Krishna having received the first worship, Sunitha (Sisupala) that
mower of foes--with eyes red as copper from anger, addressed those
rulers of men and said,--'When I am here to head ye all, what are ye
thinking of now? Arrayed let us stand in battle against the assembled
Vrishnis and the Pandavas?' And the bull of the Chedis, having thus
stirred the kings up, began to consult with them how to obstruct the
completion of the sacrifice. All the invited monarchs who had come to
the sacrifice, with Sunitha as their chief, looked angry and their
faces became pale. They all said, 'We must so act that the final
sacrificial rite performed by Yudhishthira and the worship of Krishna
may not be regarded as having been acquiesced in by us.' And impelled
by a belief in their power and great assurance, the kings, deprived of
reason through anger, began to say this. And being moved by
self-confidence and smarting under the insult offered unto them, the
monarchs repeatedly exclaimed thus. Though their friends sought to
appease them, their faces glowed with anger like those of roaring lions
driven away from their preys. Krishna then understood that the vast sea
of monarchs with its countless waves of troops was preparing for a
terrific rush."