Vaishampayana said: -
1. Having heard these words of Bhisma, the greatly powerful Chedi King, being desirous of fighting with Vasudeva (Krishna), thus spoke to Vasudeva.
Sishupala said: -
2. O Janardana, I challenge you. Come, fight me with till I kill you today with all the Pandavas.
3. O Krishna, the Pandavas also deserve to be killed by me with you, for they having passed over all these kings, have worshipped you who are not a king.
4. O Krishna, it is my opinion that those, that have from childishness worshipped you, as if you deserve it, although you are unworthy of worship, you being only a slave and a wretch and not a king, deserve to be killed by me.
Vaishampayana said: -
5. Having said this, that best of men (Sishupala) stood up and roared in anger. When he ceased (talking), Krishna spoke these words in a soft voice to all the kings in the presence of the Pandavas.
Krishna said: -
6. O kings, this cruel-hearted man who is the son of a lady of the Satvata race is a great enemy of the Satvata race. Though we never seek to injure him, yet he always seek to do us injury.
7. O king, hearing that we had gone to the city of Pragjyotisha, this wretch of cruel deeds came and burnt Dwarka, though he is the son of my aunt (father’s sister).
8. When the Bhoja king was sporting on the Raivataka hill, he killed many of that king’s attendant and carried away many in chains to his own city.
9. This wretch, sinful in all his purposes, in order to obstruct my father’s sacrifice, stole the horse of the horse-sacrifice which was let loose under armed guards.
10. This wretch, prompted by sinful motives, though she was unwilling, stole the wife of saintly Babhru (Akura), when she was on her way from Dwarka to the country of the Sauviras.
11. This wretch, ever intent to injure his maternal uncle, ravished in the disguise of the king of Karusha the saintly Bhadra, the princess of Vishala, who was the intended bride of the.
12. I have patiently born all these for the sake of my father’s sister. It is, however, very fortunate that (today) all this has happened before all these kings.
13. Look, Sirs, at the hostility that he bears towards me. Known also all that he has done against me at my back.
14. He deserves to be killed by me only on account of the great pride that he has displayed today before all these kings. I am hardly able to pardon him today for the injuries he has done me.
15. Desirous as he was of a speedy death, this fool had (once) desired to possess Rukmani (Krishna’s wife), but the fool did not obtain her, as a Shudra cannot get a hearing of the Vedas.
Vaishampayana said: -
16. Having heard these words of Vasudeva, all the kings assembled there, began to reproach the Chedi King.
17. Having heard these words, the powerful Sishupala laughed aloud and spoke these words.
Sishupala said: -
18. O Krishna, are you not ashamed to talk in this assembly, specially before all these kings, of Rukmani who had been intended for me.
19. O slayer of Madhu, who else is there but you who, regarding himself a man, would say in the midst of respectable men that his wife was intended for somebody else?
20. O Krishna, if you please pardon me or pardon me not. Angry of friendly, what can you do to me?
Vaishampayana said: -
21. When he (Sishupala) was thus talking, the high-souled slayer of Madhu, (Krishna), thought in his mind of the discus that humbles the pride of the Daityas.
22. As soon as the discus came into his hands, the skillful speaker, the high-souled (Krishna), spoke loudly these words.
Krishna said: -
23. O rulers of earth, hear why this man has been hither to pardoned by me. Asked by his mother, I promised to pardon his one hundred offences.
24. This was the boon that she asked me and this was the boon that I granted to her. O kings, that number has (now) become full. I shall now kill him in the presence of the kings.
Vaishampayana said: -
25. Having said this, the chief of the Yadu race, that chastiser of foes (Krishna), immediately cut off in anger by his discus, the head of the Chedi king.
26. The mighty armed hero fell like a cliff struck by thunder. The kings saw a fearful effulgence from the body of the Chedi king.
27. Issuing like that of the sun in the sky. O great king, that effulgence then adorned the lotus-eyed Krishna, ever worshipped by all the worlds, and it then entered his (Krishna’s ) body.
28. Seeing the effulgence (of Sishupala) enter (the body of) that mighty armed and excellent of men (Krishna), all the kings thought (the phenomenon) as very wonderful.
29. When the Chedi king was killed by Krishna, the cloudless sky poured showers of rain, blasting thunders were hurled and the earth itself began to tremble.
30. Some amongst those kings did not speak a word during those unspeakable moments; they sat gazing at Janardana (Krishna).
31. Some rubbed in anger their palms with then fore fingers, others, being deprived of their senses by anger, bit their lips with their teeth,
32. Some kings praised the Vrishni hero in private, some became exited with anger, while others became mediators.
33-34. The great Rishis became much pleased and praised Keshava (Krishna), and the high-souled Brahmanas and the greatly powerful kings, seeing the prowess of Krishna, became glad at heart and praised him. The Pandava (Yudhisthira) then commanded his brothers to perform the funeral ceremony of the king (Sishupala).
35-36. The heroic son of Damaghosha without delay and with all proper respect. They obeyed (their brother’s command). Then the son of Pritha (Yudhisthira), with his brothers and with all the kings, installed the son of the king Sishupala in the kingdom of Chedi.
37-38. O king, furnished with plentiful of com, rice and every king of food and with abundance of wealth that sacrifice of the greatly effulgent king of the Kurus, blessed with every king of prosperity, and well protected by Keshava, commenced with all auspicious ceremonies and became exceedingly beautiful and pleasing to all young men.
39. So long the great Rajasuya sacrifice was not completed, the mighty armed Janardana, the illustrious Shauri (Krishna), guarded it with his bow, called Sharanga, and with his discus and club, and thus in due time it was completed.
40. Thereupon all the Kshatrya kings came to the virtuous minded Yudhisthira who had bathed (after the completion of the sacrifice) and thus spoke to him.
41. “O virtuous man, you have grown in prosperity by good fortune. You have acquired the imperial dignity. The fame of the Ajamida race has been greatly increased by (you) the descendant of Ajamida.
42. O king of kings, you have acquired great religious merit by your this act. O best of kings, we tell you we have been worshipped by you to the full extent of our desires.
43. We now desire to return to our own kingdoms. You should give us permission”. Having heard the words of the kings, Dharmaraja Yudhisthira.
44. Worshipped them as each deserved, and then commanded his brothers thus, “All these kings have come to us at their own pleasure;
45. These chastisers of foes are now desirous of returning to their kingdoms after bidding me farewell. Blessed (brothers), follow these excellent kings to the confines of our kingdom”.
46. Having been thus commanded by their brothers, the virtuous Pandava princes followed the kings one after the other as each deserved.
47. The powerful Dhristadyumna followed the king of Virata. Dhananjaya (Arjuna) followed the great car-warrior and high-souled Yajnasena.
48. The mighty Bhimasena followed Bhisma and Dhritarashtra. The lord of battle, Sahadeva, followed the heroic Drona and his son.
49. O king, Nakula followed Subala and his son, the sons of Draupadi and the son of Subhadra followed the great car-warrior, the mountain kings.
50. The other best of Kshatryas followed others Kshatryas; and thousands of Brahmanas also, after being duly worshipped, went away.
51. On the departure of all the kings and the Brahmanas, the powerful Vasudeva (Krishna) thus spoke to Yudhisthira.
Krishna said: -
52. O descendant of Kuru, with your permission I shall now go to Dwarka. By good fortune you have accomplished the best of sacrifices, Rajasuya.
Vaishampayana said: -
53. Having been thus addressed Dharmaraja (Yudhisthira) thus replied to Janardana (Krishna), “O Govinda, through your grace I have accomplished the great sacrifice.
54. Through your grace, all the Kshatrya (kings) came under my sway and brought here for me valuable tribute.
55. O sinless one, O hero, how can I give you permission to go? Without you my heart never feels any delight.
56-57. But (I know) you must have to go to the city of Dwarka”. Having been thus addressed, the virtuous-minded and the world renowned Hari (Krishna), accompanied by Yudhisthira, went to Pritha and cheerfully said, “O Aunt, your sons have today obtained the imperial dignity.
58. They have obtained vast wealth, and they have been crowned with success. Be pleased with all this; with your permission I shall now to go to Dwarka.
59. Keshava (Krishna) then bade farewell to Subhadra and Draupadi. Then he came out of the inner apartments accompanied by Yudhisthira.
60-61. He performed his ablutions and went through the daily rites of worship. The Brahmanas uttered benedictions. Then the mighty armed Daruka came with the car of excellent make and the body resembling the clouds. Seeing the Garuda-bannered car arrived.
62. The high-souled and lotus-eyed (Krishna) walked round it respectfully and ascending on it, started for the city of Dvaravati.
63. The blessed Dharmaraja Yudhisthira, accompanied by his brothers followed on foot the greatly powerful Vasudeva (Krishna).
64. Then the lotus-eyed Hari (Krishna) stopped for a moment that excellent chariot; and thus spoke to the son of Kunti Yudhisthira.
65. “O kings, cherish your subjects with ceaseless vigilance and patience. As the clouds are to all creatures, as the large tree to the birds.
66. And as the thousand-eyed deity (Indra) to the immortals, so you also become the refuge of all your friends and relatives”. Krishna and the Pandava (Yudhisthira), thus talking with each other,
67. Took each other’s leave and went towards their respective homes. O king, when the foremost of the Satvata race. Krishna, had gone away to Dvaravati.
68. King Duryodhana and the son of Subala, Sakuni, these two best of men only remained in that celestials Sabha (assembly-hall).
Thus ends the forty fifth chapter, the killing of sishupala, in sishupala Badha of the Sabha Parva.