*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 74.*
Yudhisthira commenced the performance of the Yajna. He asked permission
of Krishna to make a respectful call on the priests that were to
officiate at the ceremonies. Vyasa, Bharadvaja, Sumanta, Gotama, Asita,
Vasishtha, Chyavana, Kanva, Maitreya and other Rishis, Drona, Bhishma,
Kripa and others, Dhritarashra with his sons, Vidura, Brahmanas, Vaisyas
and Sudras: all the kings and their subjects came to witness the Yajna.
The Brahmanas prepared the sacrificial ground with golden ploughs. They
then initiated king Yudhisthira according to the Vedic rites. The Ritvik
Brahmanas duly assisted at the performance of the Rajasuya. On the day
of extracting Soma Juice, the king duly worshipped the priests and their
assistants. Then the time came for worshipping those that were present
at the assembly. Now who was to be worshipped first? There were many
head-men present and the members consulted with one another as to who
deserved to get the first offering but they could not come to a
decision. Sahadeva then addressed the meeting thus: --
"Sri Krishna, the Lord of the Satvats, deserves the first place. All the
Devas, Time, Space, wealth and all else are but himself. He is the soul
of the Universe. He is the essence of all sacrifices, the sacrificial
fire, the sacrificial offerings and Mantras, Sankhya and Yoga; all
relate to him. He is the one without a second. Alone, He creates,
preserves and destroys. By His favor men make various performances and
from Him they attain the fruits of those performances. Give the first
welcome-offering of respect to that Great Krishna. All beings and even
Self shall be honored by this. Krishna is the soul of all beings. All
differences vanish before him."
All good people approved of the proposal of Sahadeva.
Raja Yudhisthira washed the feet of Krishna and sprinkled the water over
his own head and that of his relatives. He then made valuable offerings
to him. All people saluted Krishna, saying "Namas" (salutation) and
"Jaya" (Victory), and flowers rained over his head.
Sisupala could not bear all this. He stood up in the midst of the
assembly and thus gave vent to his feelings.
"True is the saying that time is hard to overcome. Or how could even old
men be led away by the words of a boy? You leaders of the assembly know
best what are the relative merits of all. Do not endorse the words of a
boy that Krishna deserves to get the first welcome-offering of respect
Here are great Rishis, fixed on Brahma, great in asceticism, wisdom and
religious practices, adored even by the Lokapalas, their impurities all
completely removed by divine perception. Overstepping them all, how
could this cowherd (_Gopala_) boy, the disgrace (_pansana_) of his
family (_Kula_), deserve to be worshipped, as if the crow (_Kaka_)
deserves to get the sacrificial oblation (_purodasa_)? (Sridhara
explains this Sloka and the following ones as a veiled adoration of Sri
Krishna. _Gopala_ is the protector of Vedas, of the Earth and of others.
The word _go_ means the Vedas and the Earth, besides "cow." _Kula
pansana_ = Kulapa+ansana. _Kulapas_ are sinners. He who destroys
(_Ansa_) them is _Kula pansana_. _Kaka_ may be read as compounded with
another word in the Sloka, in the form of _akaka_. _Kaka_ is ka + aka.
_Ka_ is happiness, _aka_ is misery. He who has neither happiness nor
misery is _akaka_ _i.e._, one who has got all his desires. One who has
got all his desires does not only deserve to get the _purodasa_ offering
of the Devas but all other offerings. I do not think it necessary to
reproduce the double interpretation by Sridhara of the other Slokas,
which is continued in the same strain.) He has gone away from his Varna,
Asrama and Kula. He is outside all injunctions and duties. He follows
his own will. He is void of attributes (_Gunas_). How can he deserve to
be worshipped? King Yayati cursed his line and it is not honored by good
people. His clansmen are addicted to unnecessary drinking. How can he
deserve to be worshipped? They left the the lands where the Rishis
dwell, and made their fort on the Sea; moreover they oppress their
subjects like robbers."
Sisupala went on in this way and Krishna did not say a word. The lion
heeds not the jackal's cry. The members of the Assembly closed their
ears and went away, cursing Sisupala in anger. They could not hear the
calumny of Bhagavat. For he who hears the calumny of Bhagavat and of
those that are devoted to him and does not leave the place goes
downwards, deprived of all merits. The sons of Pandu and their allies of
Matsya, Kaikaya and Srinjaya, took up arms to kill Sisupala. Sisupala
also took his shield and sword and reproved the kings on the side of
Krishna. Krishna then rose up and asked his followers to desist. He cut
off the head of Sisupala with the Chakra. A flame like a glowing meteor
rose from the body of Sisupala and entered Sri Krishna. For three
births, Sisupala had constantly followed Vishnu in enmity. By this
constant though hostile meditation, he attained the state of that he
meditated upon. (The readers are reminded here of the story of Jaya and
Vijaya, the gatekeepers of Vishnu in Vaikuntha).
The Rajasuya sacrifice came to a close. Raja Yudhisthira performed the
bathing ceremony, enjoined at the close of a sacrifice (_avabhritha_).