(Shishupala Vadha- Vyasa Mahabharata)
The eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira performed the Rajsuya Yajna in the presence of all the noble, kings across the country. All the kings from various parts, the learned Brahmins, the charioteers, Kshatriyas, and Sudras were duly invited to attend the great festive.
It was customary for an ambitious monarch to seek the permission of his compeers to his overlordship, which was given without question. After receiving this consent, he had to perform a grand Rajasuya sacrifice, which all the acquiescing kings attended to acknowledge his supremacy. That's why all the kings were assembled in the Sabha hall of Yudhishthira.
When the time came for the ‘first- Arghya’- means the first honor to be given, Yudhishthira asked politely, ‘O Grandsire, whom do you consider to be the foremost of these men present here and to whom should the Arghya be presented first?’
Then, Grandsire Bhishma said in a deep voice, ‘O son Yudhishthira, in my opinion, no one is better or above the prince of the Vrishnis race- Krishna! As the sun shines among all luminous objects, this Krishna shines among all these kings present here. He is the supreme power, all in one!’ Even all the elders of the Kuru race Vidura, Guru Drona, and Kripa agreed to Bhishma.
Commanded by Bhishma, Sahadeva endued with great prowess presented the first Arghya (honor) to Lord Krishna. A few kings were delighted while some of the Kings denounced the decision taken by Bhishma. The greatly powerful Chedi-king Shishupala derisively laughed aloud and said, ‘O descendent of Bharata race, when so many illustrious kings are present here, why was this Vrishnis race Krishna chosen for the first honor? He doesn't deserve royal worship like a king at all.
O Bhishma, how can a man like you, possessing virtue and morality, act from motives to please others, choose this cowherd boy to be worshipped?
O descended of Puru race, have you lost your sense to give the first Arghya to Krishna when the king of kings like Duryodhana, the preceptor Drona, Kripa, the mighty hero Ashwatthama, mighty Drupada, and the hero who defeated all the kings by his prowess alone, that Karna being present here?
Well, O Yudhisthira, if you consider in terms of Ritvija, then Rishi Vyasadev is here if you think in terms of well- wisher then King Drupada is here if you think in terms of eldest- Vasudev is here and if it is in term of a preceptor, then Guru Dronacharya, Kripacharya, and others are here, why have you then worshipped Krishna?
It seems Yudhishthira is no longer a righteous man! He is no longer on the path of Dharma!
O Yudhishthira, the slayer of Madhu(Krishna) is neither a sacrificial priest nor a preceptor, nor a king, why then he would be worshiped by you?
O King, if you intended to offer the first honor to Krishna, then why were these kings brought here to be insulted?’
Chedi-king Shisupala roared like a lion complaining against Krishna again and again. Accusing Yudhishthira once again he said, ‘O Yudhishthira, we have not paid any tribute to you out of fear or conciliation. You have lost your virtue and righteousness. Certainly, the man who sought advice was born illegitimately (humiliating the Pandavas). And the man who gave this advice was born of one who ever declined from high to low(Ganga, water flows from high to low). So, nothing is new about it!
Now, O Janardana! Why did you accept the Arghya which you are not worthy of? O Krishna! This is no insult to the Kings, but it is you to whom Kurus have insulted! And it is like a wife to a worthless and a beautiful sight to a blind man, so is the worship to you who is not a king at all!’
Having said this, the Chedi King got up from his seat and left the assembly accompanied by some other kings. Thereupon, King Yudhishthira ran after Shisupala and urged him politely to approve the decision of Pitamaha Bhishma. The eldest Pandava earnestly requested to Chedi king not to utter harsh words against the grandsire Bhishma.
Looking at the condition of Yudhishthira, Bhishma addressed the assembly, ‘Listen to me O Yudhisthira and the kings present here- he who does not approve the worship offered to Krishna, deserves neither soft words nor conciliation.
O kings! Krishna is vastly learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, and he has great prowess. Cleverness, knowledge, bravery, humility, modesty, achievement, beauty, firmness, and prosperity all live forever in Vrishnis Prince- Krishna. Who else is there in this world of men except Govinda (Krishna) who is so distinguished? Therefore, O kings, you should approve the worship offered to one who is endowed with such accomplishments!
As the Agnihotra is the foremost of all Vedic rights, as is Gayatri among the mantras, as is the Ocean among rivers, as is the moon among constellations, as is the Sun among the luminous bodies, and as is Meru among mountains, so is the illustrious Krishna, the foremost in all the worlds including that of the celestials. Shishupala does not know who Krishna is!’
After hearing Grandsire Bhishma, Sahadeva said, ‘If there is any king who can not bear the worship offered by me to Keshava, I place my foot on the head of those heroes.’ The greatest of all Rishi's Narada said, ‘Those who do not accept this offer to Krishna are dead though living!’
Having heard the wrathful, ugly words of Chedi-king against Krishna and Grandsire, and seeing some of the kings agitated by anger, Yudhishthira sought the advice of Bhishma to help him. At that time, Bhishma told him, ‘O noble son! Do not be puzzled. Can the dog kill the lion? A pack of dogs only are barking at a sleeping lion! Time has come for Shisupala and this is his (Krishna’s ) wish.’
Hearing the words of Bhishma, Shishupala was enraged. His eyes enlarged, lips trembled out of anger. He screamed aloud, ‘Kill this dotard, kill Bhishma at once.’ Out of arrogance, he asked his followers to attack together to Grandsire Bhishma. Ignoring their vain attempt, Bhishma roared, ‘O kings listen to me, whether I may be killed by you or be burnt, I say, I put my foot on the head all of you.’
Hearing the words of Bhishma, the King of Chedi barked loudly, ‘O Janardana! I challenge you! Come and fight with me if have guts! Today itself, I’ll kill you, the old wretched Bhishma and all the Pandavas.’
That was the climax of the hot, harsh words exchanged by both sides of assembled kings! At last, Krishna spoke, ‘O rulers of earth! Hear me why I pardoned this man, king of Chedi till now. I had given words to his noble mother ( my aunt) to pardon him for one hundred times. O kings, that number has now become full.’ Having said this, the chastiser of foes Krishna cut off by his discus, the head of King Shishupala. A brilliant light came out from the body of Chedi- king and entered into the body of Lord Krishna! All the kings became speechless! Spellbound by this wonderful incident, the kings sat gazing at Janardana!
And the first honor was completed by offering the Arghya to Lord Krishna by Sahadeva!
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