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."