॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ चतुःसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः - ७४ ॥
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Discourse LXXIV
Śiśupāla killed (by Śrī Kṛṣṇa) (Preamble)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
एवं युधिष्ठिरो राजा जरासन्धवधं विभोः ।
कृष्णस्य चानुभावं तं श्रुत्वा प्रीतस्तमब्रवीत् ॥ १॥
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Śrī Śuka began again : Parikṣit, Yudhiṣṭhira was highly delighted to hear of Jarāsandha's fall and of the supreme glory of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and spoke to Him as follows. (1) (1)
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युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
ये स्युस्त्रैलोक्यगुरवः सर्वे लोकमहेश्वराः ।
वहन्ति दुर्लभं लब्ध्वा शिरसैवानुशासनम् ॥ २॥
स भवानरविन्दाक्षो दीनानामीशमानिनाम् ।
धत्तेऽनुशासनं भूमंस्तदत्यन्तविडम्बनम् ॥ ३॥
न ह्येकस्याद्वितीयस्य ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः ।
कर्मभिर्वर्धते तेजो ह्रसते च यथा रवेः ॥ ४॥
न वै तेऽजित भक्तानां ममाहमिति माधव ।
त्वं तवेति च नानाधीः पशूनामिव वैकृता ॥ ५॥
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King Yudhiṣṭhira submitted : Kṛṣṇa, Lords of the three worlds like Brahmā and Śaṅkara, and guardians of the world like Indra bow their heads to Your command whenever they obtain the rare privilege of receiving it. (2)
O infinite Lord, though extremely humble and wretched, we are conceited enough to regard ourselves as kings and rulers. Yet (instead of degrading us) You submit to our authority and carry out our commands. O lotus-eyed Lord, this is nothing but imitation on Your part of the ways of men. (3)
Just as the brilliance of the sun is neither enhanced nor suffers diminution with the ascent or decline of the sun, even so Your doings in no way exalt You or detract from Your glory. For You are the Supreme Spirit, the one Absolute without a second. (4)
O unconquerable Lord, thoughts of diversity like "I and Mine" and "Thou and Thine" obtain only among the ignorant. Such crooked notions of difference do not find place even in Your devotees, much less in You. Whatever You do is, therefore, nothing but Your Sport. (5) (2-5)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
इत्युक्त्वा यज्ञिये काले वव्रे युक्तान् स ऋत्विजः ।
कृष्णानुमोदितः पार्थो ब्राह्मणान् ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥ ६॥
द्वैपायनो भरद्वाजः सुमन्तुर्गौतमोऽसितः ।
वसिष्ठश्च्यवनः कण्वो मैत्रेयः कवषस्त्रितः ॥ ७॥
विश्वामित्रो वामदेवः सुमतिर्जैमिनिः क्रतुः ।
पैलः पराशरो गर्गो वैशम्पायन एव च ॥ ८॥
अथर्वा कश्यपो धौम्यो रामो भार्गव आसुरिः ।
वीतिहोत्रो मधुच्छन्दा वीरसेनोऽकृतव्रणः ॥ ९॥
उपहूतास्तथा चान्ये द्रोणभीष्मकृपादयः ।
धृतराष्ट्रः सहसुतो विदुरश्च महामतिः ॥ १०॥
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा यज्ञदिदृक्षवः ।
तत्रेयुः सर्वराजानो राज्ञां प्रकृतयो नृप ॥ ११॥
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Śrī Śuka resumed : Saying so, and with Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa's concurrence, King Yudhiṣṭhira invited at an hour propitious for the sacrifice Brāhmaṇas versed in the Vedas and proficient in the Vedic ritual to officiate as priests etc., at the sacrifice. (6)
They were Śrī Kṛṣṇadwaipāyana Vyāsa, Bharadwāja, Sumantu, Gautama, Asita, Vasiṣṭha, Cyavana, Kaṇva, Maitreya, Kavaṣa, Trita, Viśwāmitra, Vāmadeva, Sumati, Jaimini, Kṛatu, Paila, Parāśara, Garga and Vaiśampāyana, Atharvā, Kaśyapa, Dhaumya, Paraśurāma, Śukrācārya, Āsuri, Vitihotra, Madhutchandā, Virasena and Akṛtavṛaṇa. (7—9)
Besides these, he also invited Droṇācārya, Bhiṣma, Kṛpācārya and others, (as well as) Dhṛtarāṣṭra with all his sons and the noble-minded Vidura to come and help in the performance. (10)
In order to witness the great sacrifice many princes with their ministers and chief officers, Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras, arrived at Indraprastha, O king ! (11) (6-11)
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ततस्ते देवयजनं ब्राह्मणाः स्वर्णलाङ्गलैः ।
कृष्ट्वा तत्र यथाम्नायं दीक्षयाञ्चक्रिरे नृपम् ॥ १२॥
हैमाः किलोपकरणा वरुणस्य यथा पुरा ।
इन्द्रादयो लोकपाला विरिञ्चभवसंयुताः ॥ १३॥
सगणाः सिद्धगन्धर्वा विद्याधरमहोरगाः ।
मुनयो यक्षरक्षांसि खगकिन्नरचारणाः ॥ १४॥
राजानश्च समाहूता राजपत्न्यश्च सर्वशः ।
राजसूयं समीयुः स्म राज्ञः पाण्डुसुतस्य वै ॥ १५॥
मेनिरे कृष्णभक्तस्य सूपपन्नमविस्मिताः ।
अयाजयन् महाराजं याजका देववर्चसः ॥ १६॥
राजसूयेन विधिवत्प्रचेतसमिवामराः ।
सौत्येऽहन्यवनीपालो याजकान् सदसस्पतीन् ।
अपूजयन्महाभागान् यथावत्सुसमाहितः ॥ १७॥
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Then the priests ploughed the sacrificial ground with ploughs of gold and initiated Yudhiṣṭhira, according to the scriptural injunctions, as the sacrificer. (12)
The utensils used in this sacrifice were all made of gold as they were in the sacrifice performed by Varuṇa in ancient times. Brahmā, Śaṅkara, Indra and other guardians of the world, Siddhas and Gandharvas with their retinues, Vidyādharas and Nāgas, sages, Yakṣas and Rākṣasas, birds, Kinnaras, Cāraṇas and powerful princes with their queens—all came to attend the Rājasūya sacrifice of King Yudhiṣṭhira at his invitation. (13—15)
All of them admitted without any hesitation that he was qualified to perform the same. For to a devotee of Śrī Kṛṣṇa nothing is impossible of achievement. Then the priests, who were as glorious as the gods, conducted for the king the Rājasūya sacrifice according to the scriptural ordinance, as in ancient times the gods did for Varuṇa. (16)
On the day fixed for extracting the Soma juice, the king honoured the blessed priests as well as the supervisors of the performance with due attention. (17) (12-17)
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सदस्याग्र्यार्हणार्हं वै विमृशन्तः सभासदः ।
नाध्यगच्छन्ननैकान्त्यात्सहदेवस्तदाब्रवीत् ॥ १८॥
अर्हति ह्यच्युतः श्रैष्ठ्यं भगवान् सात्वताम्पतिः ।
एष वै देवताः सर्वा देशकालधनादयः ॥ १९॥
यदात्मकमिदं विश्वं क्रतवश्च यदात्मकाः ।
अग्निराहुतयो मन्त्राः साङ्ख्यं योगश्च यत्परः ॥ २०॥
एक एवाद्वितीयोऽसावैतदात्म्यमिदं जगत् ।
आत्मनाऽऽत्माश्रयः सभ्याः सृजत्यवति हन्त्यजः ॥ २१॥
विविधानीह कर्माणि जनयन् यदवेक्षया ।
ईहते यदयं सर्वः श्रेयो धर्मादिलक्षणम् ॥ २२॥
तस्मात्कृष्णाय महते दीयतां परमार्हणम् ।
एवं चेत्सर्वभूतानामात्मनश्चार्हणं भवेत् ॥ २३॥
सर्वभूतात्मभूताय कृष्णायानन्यदर्शिने ।
देयं शान्ताय पूर्णाय दत्तस्यानन्त्यमिच्छता ॥ २४॥
इत्युक्त्वा सहदेवोऽभूत्तूष्णीं कृष्णानुभाववित् ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा तुष्टुवुः सर्वे साधु साध्विति सत्तमाः ॥ २५॥
श्रुत्वा द्विजेरितं राजा ज्ञात्वा हार्दं सभासदाम् ।
समर्हयद्धृषीकेशं प्रीतः प्रणयविह्वलः ॥ २६॥
तत्पादाववनिज्यापः शिरसा लोकपावनीः ।
सभार्यः सानुजामात्यः सकुटुम्बोऽवहन्मुदा ॥ २७॥
वासोभिः पीतकौशेयैर्भूषणैश्च महाधनैः ।
अर्हयित्वाश्रुपूर्णाक्षो नाशकत्समवेक्षितुम् ॥ २८॥
इत्थं सभाजितं वीक्ष्य सर्वे प्राञ्जलयो जनाः ।
नमो जयेति नेमुस्तं निपेतुः पुष्पवृष्टयः ॥ २९॥
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Now, the members of the assembly proceeded to consider who was worthy of receiving the first place of honour, but could not come to any decision for want of unanimity. Thereupon Sahadeva addressed the assembly in the following words: (18)
"In my opinion Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the crown-jewel of the Yadus, is the best man in this assembly and deserve the first place of honour. For all the gods as well as Time, Space, Wealth and Whatever other things there are in this world—all are but He. (19)
The whole universe is His manifestation. The sacrifices are He, He is Fire, He is the oblations, He is revealed in the form of the Mantras. The path of Knowledge and the path of Action both lead to Him. (20)
Members of this august assembly, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the one Absolute without a second; the whole universe is His body. Though self-dependent and unborn, He creates, protects and destroys the universe by His own will. (21)
Through His grace people perform various acts in the world and pursue the fourfold object of life, viz., Dharma (virtue), Artha (worldly prosperity), Kāma (worldly enjoyment) and Mokṣa (liberation). (22)
Therefore, I propose that foremost honour should be offered to Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the greatest of the great. Through honouring Him, we shall have honoured all beings as well as our own self. (23)
He who seeks that his gifts should embrace infinity, should make them to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the Self of all beings and views, none as other than Himself, who is absolutely unruffled and perfect in every way." (24)
Parikṣit! Sahadeva, who was aware of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa's greatness, became silent after saying this. All good people in the assembly were pleased to hear this, and applauded him saying, 'well said, well said'. (25)
Hearing this ejaculation of the Brāhmaṇas and ascertaining the general sense of the members of the assembly, King Yudhiṣṭhira was extremely delighted and with a heart overwhelmed with emotion, honoured Śrī Kṛṣṇa by offering Him the worship due to the First Man in the assembly. (26)
In great joy he washed the feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and together with his consort (Draupadi), brothers, ministers and other members of his family, bore on his head the drops of that water, which purify the world. (27)
Then he presented the Lord with robes of yellow silk and ornaments. His eyes being full of tears at the time, he could not even distinctly see the Form of the Lord. (28)
Seeing Him thus honoured, all those present in the assembly joined their palms in reverence, with shouts of 'Namo Namah' (Salutations) and 'Jaya-Jaya' (Victory to You), and showers of flowers fell on Him from the heavens. (29) (18-29)
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इत्थं निशम्य दमघोषसुतः स्वपीठा-
दुत्थाय कृष्णगुणवर्णनजातमन्युः ।
उत्क्षिप्य बाहुमिदमाह सदस्यमर्षी
संश्रावयन् भगवते परुषाण्यभीतः ॥ ३०॥
ईशो दुरत्ययः काल इति सत्यवती श्रुतिः ।
वृद्धानामपि यद्बुद्धिर्बालवाक्यैर्विभिद्यते ॥ ३१॥
यूयं पात्रविदां श्रेष्ठा मा मन्ध्वं बालभाषीतम् ।
सदसस्पतयः सर्वे कृष्णो यत्सम्मतोऽर्हणे ॥ ३२॥
तपोविद्याव्रतधरान् ज्ञानविध्वस्तकल्मषान् ।
परमऋषीन् ब्रह्मनिष्ठांल्लोकपालैश्च पूजितान् ॥ ३३॥
सदस्पतीनतिक्रम्य गोपालः कुलपांसनः ।
यथा काकः पुरोडाशं सपर्यां कथमर्हति ॥ ३४॥
वर्णाश्रमकुलापेतः सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः ।
स्वैरवर्ती गुणैर्हीनः सपर्यां कथमर्हति ॥ ३५॥
ययातिनैषां हि कुलं शप्तं सद्भिर्बहिष्कृतम् ।
वृथापानरतं शश्वत्सपर्यां कथमर्हति ॥ ३६॥
ब्रह्मर्षिसेवितान् देशान् हित्वैतेऽब्रह्मवर्चसम् ।
समुद्रं दुर्गमाश्रित्य बाधन्ते दस्यवः प्रजाः ॥ ३७॥
एवमादीन्यभद्राणि बभाषे नष्टमङ्गलः ।
नोवाच किञ्चिद्भगवान् यथा सिंहः शिवारुतम् ॥ ३८॥
भगवन्निन्दनं श्रुत्वा दुःसहं तत्सभासदः ।
कर्णौ पिधाय निर्जग्मुः शपन्तश्चेदिपं रुषा ॥ ३९॥
निन्दां भगवतः शृण्वंस्तत्परस्य जनस्य वा ।
ततो नापैति यः सोऽपि यात्यधः सुकृताच्च्युतः ॥ ४०॥
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Parikṣit, Śiśupāla heard all this from his seat in the assembly. Enraged at the glorification of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he rose from his seat and holding up his arm in great indignation fearlessly spoke these harsh words with reference to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (30)
He said, "Leaders of this House, the pronouncement of the Vedas that Time is God is quite true; for Time is inviolable, its decree cannot be revoked. (This has been made perfectly clear by the proceedings of this assembly.) (For) we have seen how even the (hardened) reason of wise and elderly people can be misled by the prattlings of children. (31)
Remember, you are the best judge to decide who is worthy to receive the honour of first place in this assembly. Therefore, please do not accept as gospel truth Sahadeva's childish talk that Kṛṣṇa is worthy of that honour. (32)
There are present here men of great austerity, learning and sacred vows, men who have wiped out their sins through wisdom, great sages who are established in Brahma and adored even by the greatest of gods. (33)
Ignoring the leaders of this assembly, how can this cowherd, a disgrace to his clan and family, be considered worthy of receiving this honour? Does the crow deserve to receive a sacrificial oblation? (34)
He owns no Varṇa (caste), or Āśrama (stage of life), and does not possess nobility of birth; he is beyond the pale of all Dharmas (sacred laws) and acts wantonly both against the Vedic injunctions and established usage. Moreover he is devoid of all virtues. Under the circumstances, how can he deserve the honour of first place? (35)
You are aware that his clan is under the curse of Yayāti, and has, therefore, been boycotted by all good people. Moreover, they are all given to unauthorized drinking. How can he, therefore, be entitled to receive the honour of first place? (36)
Abandoning Mathurā and other sacred places (inhabited by Brahmanical sages), they have resorted to a fortified place in the sea, destitute of Brāhmaṇas devoted to the Vedas. When they come out of their fortifications, they harass all creatures like pirates." (37)
Parikṣit, all the merits of Śiśupāla had been exhausted. That is why he uttered these and similar harsh words with reference to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. But just as the lion does not heed the jackal's howls, even so the Almighty Lord did not say a word in reply to Śiśupāla. (38)
But the vilification of the Lord became unbearable to the audience, some of whom closed their ears and indignantly left the Hall censuring Śiśupāla for his unjustifiable remarks. (39)
(There was reason for this.) For, Parikṣit, he who, on hearing aspersions cast upon God or upon His devotee, does not leave the spot, loses his merit and goes down to hell. (40) (30-40)
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ततः पाण्डुसुताः क्रुद्धा मत्स्यकैकयसृञ्जयाः ।
उदायुधाः समुत्तस्थुः शिशुपालजिघांसवः ॥ ४१॥
ततश्चैद्यस्त्वसम्भ्रान्तो जगृहे खड्गचर्मणी ।
भर्त्सयन् कृष्णपक्षीयान् राज्ञः सदसि भारत ॥ ४२॥
तावदुत्थाय भगवान् स्वान् निवार्य स्वयं रुषा ।
शिरः क्षुरान्तचक्रेण जहारापततो रिपोः ॥ ४३॥
शब्दः कोलाहलोऽप्यासीच्छिशुपाले हते महान् ।
तस्यानुयायिनो भूपा दुद्रुवुर्जीवितैषिणः ॥ ४४॥
चैद्यदेहोत्थितं ज्योतिर्वासुदेवमुपाविशत् ।
पश्यतां सर्वभूतानामुल्केव भुवि खाच्च्युता ॥ ४५॥
जन्मत्रयानुगुणितवैरसंरब्धया धिया ।
ध्यायंस्तन्मयतां यातो भावो हि भवकारणम् ॥ ४६॥
ऋत्विग्भ्यः ससदस्येभ्यो दक्षिणां विपुलामदात् ।
सर्वान् सम्पूज्य विधिवच्चक्रेऽवभृथमेकराट् ॥ ४७॥
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Now, the Pāṇḍavas, Matsyas, Kaikayas and Śrīḍayas stood up in rage with uplifted weapons, determined to make short work of Śiśupāla. (41)
Undaunted by the threat, the latter took up his sword and shield and rebuked the princes who sided with Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the assembly. (42)
(Observing both the sides prepared for a combat,) Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa stood up and pacified the rulers who sided with Him, and exhibiting some anger out off with His sharp-edged discus the head of Śiśupāla, who had in the meantime swooped on Him. (43)
Great and tumultuous was the uproar in the assembly when Śiśupāla fell down dead. The princes who followed him took to their heels to save their lives. (44)
Just as a meteor dropping from the sky gets absorbed into the earth, even so all people witnessed a column of light emanating from Śiśupāla's body enter Śrī Kṛṣṇa and merge into Him. (45)
Parikṣit, contemplating on the Lord with thoughts of hatred and anger fostered for three consecutive lives, Śiśupāla became one with Him, and was restored to his original place as an attendant of the Lord. Thus it is the thought of the individual which determines his future state. (46)
After Śiśupāla's deliverance, Emperor Yudhiṣṭhira gave sacrificial fees on a liberal scale to the priests and supervisors of the sacrifice and honoured all who attended it. Thereafter he performed ablutions betokening the completion of the sacrifice, according to the scriptural injunctions. (47) (41-47)
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साधयित्वा क्रतुं राज्ञः कृष्णो योगेश्वरेश्वरः ।
उवास कतिचिन्मासान् सुहृद्भिरभियाचितः ॥ ४८॥
ततोऽनुज्ञाप्य राजानमनिच्छन्तमपीश्वरः ।
ययौ सभार्यः सामात्यः स्वपुरं देवकीसुतः ॥ ४९॥
वर्णितं तदुपाख्यानं मया ते बहुविस्तरम् ।
वैकुण्ठवासिनोर्जन्म विप्रशापात्पुनः पुनः ॥ ५०॥
राजसूयावभृथ्येन स्नातो राजा युधिष्ठिरः ।
ब्रह्मक्षत्रसभामध्ये शुशुभे सुरराडिव ॥ ५१॥
राज्ञा सभाजिताः सर्वे सुरमानवखेचराः ।
कृष्णं क्रतुं च शंसन्तः स्वधामानि ययुर्मुदा ॥ ५२॥
दुर्योधनमृते पापं कलिं कुरुकुलामयम् ।
यो न सेहे श्रियं स्फीतां दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुसुतस्य ताम् ॥ ५३॥
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Parikṣit, having thus brought the Rājasūya sacrifice of Yudhiṣṭhira to a successful conclusion, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord of all masters of Yoga, spent some months at Indraprastha at the request of His friends and relations. (48)
Then the Almighty Lord took leave of Yudhiṣṭhira, who was reluctant to allow Him to go, and left for Dvārakā with His consorts and ministers. (49)
Parikṣit, I have already narrated to you at considerable length (in Skandha VII) how under the curse of Sanaka and his brothers Jaya and Vijaya, the two attendants of the Lord at Vaikuṇṭha, had to take repeated births on earth. (50)
Having finished the ablutions at the close of the Rājasūya sacrifice, Yudhiṣṭhira shone like Indra (the king of gods) in the assembly of Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas. (51)
Honoured by Yudhiṣṭhira all the gods, men and ethereal beings gladly returned to their respective abodes glorifying Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the sacrifice performed by King Yudhiṣṭhira. (52)
Duryodhana alone of all those who had attended the sacrifice could not bear the sight of the vast fortune and royal splendour of the Pāṇḍavas. For he was sinful and quarrelsome by nature, a veritable cancer in the body of the Kuru race, brought into being for its destruction. (53) (48-53)
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य इदं कीर्तयेद्विष्णोः कर्म चैद्यवधादिकम् ।
राजमोक्षं वितानं च सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ ५४॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे शिशुपालवधो
नाम चतुःसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः ॥ ७४॥
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Parikṣit, anyone who sings of this sport of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa relating to the destruction of Śiṣupāla and Jarāsandha, the release of the imprisoned kings and performance of the Rājasūya sacrifice by Yudhiṣṭhira, will be freed of all sin. (54)
Thus ends the seventy-fourth discourse entitled Śiṣupāla killed (by Śrī Kṛṣṇa), in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Sarhhitā. (54)
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