Source
Texts:
The
Deliverance of S'is'upâla at the Râjasûya
Sacrifice
Text
1
S'rî
S'uka said: 'Yudhishthhira, the king, thus hearing of the
killing of Jarâsandha and the display of power of the
almighty Krishna, pleased with that addressed
Him.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: Having thus heard of the killing
of Jarâsandha, and also of almighty Krishna's
wonderful power, King Yudhishthhira addressed the Lord as
follows with great pleasure.
Text
2
S'rî
Yudhishthhira said: 'All the spiritual masters, inhabitants,
and great controllers there are of the three worlds, carry the
indeed rarely obtained command [of You] on their
heads.
S'rî
Yudhishthhira said: All the exalted spiritual masters of the
three worlds, together with the inhabitants and rulers of
the various planets, carry on their heads Your command,
which is rarely obtained.
Text
3
That He, the
Lotus-eyed Lord Yourself, takes directions of those to the day
living people [like us] who presume themselves to be
controllers, is, o All-pervading One, the greatest
annoyance.
That
You, the lotus-eyed Supreme Lord, accept the orders of
wretched fools who presume themselves rulers is a great
pretense on Your part, O all- pervading one.
Text
4
Like with the
sun indeed, does of the One without a Second, the Absolute
Truth, the Supersoul, the power not increase nor diminish by
[His] activities [see: B.G.
2: 40].
But
of course the power of the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Soul,
the primeval one without a second, is neither increased nor
diminished by His activities, any more than the sun's power
is by its movements.
Text
5
O
Mâdhava, the perverted mentality of setting apart 'you
and yours' and 'I and mine', as if one is of the animals, is
verily not Yours, o Unconquerable One, nor of your
bhakta's.
O
unconquerable Mâdhava, even Your devotees make no
distinctions of "I" and "mine," "you" and "yours," for this
is the perverted mentality of animals.
Text
6
S'rî
S'uka said: 'Speaking thus chose the son of Prithâ, at
the time right for the sacrifice, with the permission of
Krishna the priests appropriate, the brahmins that were vedic
experts:
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: Having said this, King
Yudhishthhira waited until the proper time for the sacrifice
was at hand. Then with Lord Krishna's permission he selected
suitable priests, all expert authorities on the Vedas, to
execute the sacrifice.
Text
7-9:
Dvaipâyana
[Vyâsa], Bharadvâja, Sumantu, Gotam, Asita,
Vasishthha, Cyavana, Kanva, Maitreya, Kavasha, Trita,
Vis'vâmitra, Vâmadeva, Sumati, Jaimini, Kratu,
Paila, Parâs'ara, Garga, Vais'ampâyana as also
Atharvâ, Kas'yapa, Dhaumya, Râma of the
Bhârgavas [Pâras'urâma], Âsuri,
Vîtihotra, Madhucchandâ, Vîrasena and
Akritavrana.
He
selected Krishna-dvaipâyana, Bharadvâja,
Sumantu, Gotama and Asita, along with Vasishthha, Cyavana,
Kanva, Maitreya, Kavasha and Trita. He also selected
Vis'vâmitra, Vâmadeva, Sumati, Jaimini, Kratu,
Paila and Parâs'ara, as well as Garga,
Vais'ampâyana, Atharvâ, Kas'yapa, Dhaumya,
Râma of the Bhârgavas, Âsuri,
Vîtihotra, Madhucchandâ, Vîrasena and
Akritavrana.
Text
10-11:
Also invited
were others like Drona, Bhîshma, Kripa and
Dhritarâshthra
with his sons, and the highly intelligent Vidura; kings with
their royal entourages, brahmins, kshatriyas, vais'yas and
s'ûdras, all came there eager to attend the sacrifice, o
King.
O
King, others who were invited included Drona, Bhîshma,
Kripa, Dhritarâshthra with his sons, the wise Vidura,
and many other brâhmanas, kshatriyas, vais'yas and
s'ûdras, all eager to witness the sacrifice. Indeed,
all the kings came there with their entourages.
Text
12
Then
did the brahmins with plowshares of gold furrow the place of
worshiping the gods, and inaugurated they there the king
according the injunctions.
The
brâhmana priests then plowed the sacrificial ground
with golden plowshares and initiated King Yudhishthhira for
the sacrifice in accordance with the traditions set down by
standard authorities.
Text
14-16:
The
utensils were of gold indeed like in the past with Varuna
[compare 9.2:
27].
The rulers of the worlds headed by Indra, including
Brahmâ and S'iva; the perfected and heavenly singers with
their attendants; the scholars, the great serpents
[v.i.p.'s, egos], the sages, the wealth keepers and
wild men; the birds of heaven [see khaga],
the mighty, the venerable and the earthly kings invited, as
also the wives of the kings came from everywhere to the
Râjasûya sacrifice which they, unsurprised, for a
devotee of Krishna deemed quite appropriate.
The
utensils used in the sacrifice were made of gold, just as in
the ancient Râjasûya performed by Lord Varuna.
Indra, Brahmâ, S'iva and many other planetary rulers;
the Siddhas and Gandharvas with their entourage; the
Vidyâdharas; great serpents; sages; Yakshas;
Râkshasas; celestial birds; Kinnaras; Câranas;
and earthly kings - all were invited, and indeed they all
came from every direction to the Râjasûya
sacrifice of King Yudhishthhira, the son of Pându.
They were not in the least astonished to see the opulence of
the sacrifice, since it was quite appropriate for a devotee
of Lord Krishna.
Text
17
On the day for
extracting the soma-juice worshiped the king very attentively
the sacrificers and the exalted personalities of the
assembly.
On
the day of extracting the soma juice, King Yudhishthhira
properly and very attentively worshiped the priests and the
most exalted personalities of the assembly.
Text
18
The members
seated in the assembly pondering over who of them deserved to
be worshiped first could not arrive at a conclusion as there
were many [who qualified]; then Sahadeva [the
Pândava] spoke up:
The
members of the assembly then pondered over who among them
should be worshiped first, but since there were many
personalities qualified for this honor, they were unable to
decide. Finally Sahadeva spoke up.
Text
19
'Acyuta for
sure deserves the supreme position, He is the Supreme Lord, the
leader of the Sâtvatas, He doubtlessly covers all the
demigods as well as the place, time and necessities and
such.
[Sahadeva
said:] Certainly it is Acyuta, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead and chief of the Yâdavas, who deserves the
highest position. In truth, He Himself comprises all the
demigods worshiped in sacrifice, along with such aspects of
the worship as the sacred place, the time and the
paraphernalia.
Text
20-21
This
universe as well as the great sacrificial performances, the
sacred fire, the oblations and the incantations are founded
upon Him and the analytic and the yoga are aiming at Him. He is
the One alone without a second upon whom the Living Being
builds; the Unborn One relying on Himself alone, o members of
the assembly, who creates, maintains and
destroys.
This
entire universe is founded upon Him, as are the great
sacrificial performances, with their sacred fires, oblations
and mantras. Sânkhya and yoga both aim toward Him, the
one without a second. O assembly members, that unborn Lord,
relying solely on Himself, creates, maintains and destroys
this cosmos by His personal energies, and thus the existence
of this universe depends on Him alone.
Text
22
He
generates the various activities out here; to His grace does
the whole world endeavor and follow its ideals known as the
religiosity and so on [the
purusharthas].
He
creates the many activities of this world, and thus by His
grace the whole world endeavors for the ideals of
religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and
liberation.
Text
23
Therefore
should the greatest honor be given to Krishna, the Supreme One;
if we do it this way, will we be honoring all living beings as
well as ourselves.
Therefore
we should give the highest honor to Krishna, the Supreme
Lord. If we do so, we will be honoring all living beings and
also our own selves.
Text
24
It is to be
given to Krishna, the Soul of all beings who sees no one as
separate; to the One of Peace Perfectly Complete who for him
who desires the reciprocal, is the Unlimited [the Infinite
of Return].'
Anyone
who wishes the honor he gives to be reciprocated infinitely
should honor Krishna, the perfectly peaceful and perfectly
complete Soul of all beings, the Supreme Lord, who views
nothing as separate from Himself.
Text
25
Sahadeva thus
speaking fell silent and all the best and truthful hearing
this, knowing well the influence of Kishna, said happily: 'This
is excellent, very fine!'
[S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî continued:] Having said this,
Sahadeva, who understood Lord Krishna's powers, fell silent.
And having heard his words, all the saintly persons present
congratulated him, exclaiming "Excellent! Excellent!"
Text
26
Hearing
what the twiceborn pronounced, worshiped the king, pleased to
know of the contentment of the members of the assembly,
overwhelmed by love in full Hrishîkes'a.
The
King was delighted to hear this pronouncement of the
brâhmanas, from which he understood the mood of the
entire assembly. Overwhelmed with love, he fully worshiped
Lord Krishna, the master of the senses.
Text
27-28
Washing
His feet and taking the water that purifies the world on his
own head and carrying it with pleasure to his wife, his
brothers, his ministers and family, was he, with precious
yellow silken garments and jewelry honoring Him, with his eyes
filled with tears unable to look straight at
Him.
After
bathing Lord Krishna's feet, Mahârâja
Yudhishthhira joyfully sprinkled the water upon his own
head, and then upon the heads of his wife, brothers, other
family members and ministers. That water purifies the whole
world. As he honored the Lord with presentations of yellow
silken garments and precious jeweled ornaments, the King's
tear-filled eyes prevented him from looking directly at the
Lord.
Text
29
Seeing
Him honored this way exclaimed all the people with joined
palms: 'Obeisances to You, all victory to You!' and to that
bowing down to Him fell showers of flowers.
When
they saw Lord Krishna thus honored, nearly all who were
present joined their palms reverentially, exclaiming
"Obeisances to You! All victory to You!" and then bowed down
to Him. Flowers rained down from above.
Text
30
The
son of Damaghosha [S'is'upâla, see
10.53]
hearing this rose, aroused by the descriptions of Krishna's
qualities, from his seat angrily waving with his arms and said,
resolutely addressing the Fortunate One with harsh words, this
in the middle of the assembly:
The
intolerant son of Damaghosha became infuriated upon hearing
the glorification of Lord Krishna's transcendental
qualities. He stood up from his seat and, angrily waving his
arms, fearlessly spoke to the entire assembly the following
harsh words against the Supreme Lord.
Text
31
'The
vedic word of truth that Time is the unavoidable controller,
has been proven true since even the intelligence of the elders
could be led astray by the words of a boy!
[S'is'upâla
said:] The statement of the Vedas that time is the
unavoidable controller of all has indeed been proven true,
since the intelligence of wise elders has now become
diverted by the words of a mere boy.
Text
32
All
of you know best who's the most praiseworthy; please, all you
leaders of the assembly, pay no attention to the statements of
the boy that Krishna should be chosen for being
honored.
O
leaders of the assembly, you know best who is a fit
candidate for being honored. Therefore you should not heed
the words of a child when he claims that Krishna deserves to
be worshiped.
Text
33-34
Passing
over leaders in the assembly, topmost sages dedicated to the
Absolute Truth held high by the local authorities, who by
spiritual understanding, austerity, vedic knowledge and vows
eradicated their impurities - how can a cowherd, the disgrace
of His family, no more than a crow deserves the sacred
rice-cake, deserve it to be worshiped?
How
can you pass over the most exalted members of this assembly
- topmost sages dedicated to the Absolute Truth endowed with
powers of austerity, divine insight and strict adherence to
severe vows, sanctified by knowledge and worshiped even by
the rulers of the universe? How does this cowherd boy, the
disgrace of His family, deserve your worship, any more than
a crow deserves to eat the sacred purodâs'a rice
cake?
Text
35
How
can He, acting independently and devoid of kula [a proper
upbringing] varna [vocational propriety] and
âs'rama [sense of duty to one's age], missing the
qualities, deserve it to be worshiped?
How
does one who follows no principles of the social and
spiritual orders or of family ethics, who has been excluded
from all religious duties, who behaves whimsically, and who
has no good qualities - how does such a person deserve to be
worshiped?
Text
36
With
their [Yadu-] dynasty cursed by Yayâti [see
9.18:
40-44],
being ostracized by well-behaved persons [see
10.52:
9]
and wantonly addicted to drinking [e.g.
10.67:
9-10],
how can such a [Yadu] one deserve the
worship?
Yayâti
cursed the dynasty of these Yâdavas, and ever since
then they have been ostracized by honest men and addicted to
liquor. How, then, does Krishna deserve to be
worshiped?
Text
37
Abandoning
the lands [of Mathurâ] graced by the brahmin
sages took these ones to a fortress in the sea
[10.50:
49]
where the brahminical is not observed [10.57:
30],
as thieves causing trouble to the people [e.g.
10.61].'
These
Yâdavas have abandoned the holy lands inhabited by
saintly sages and have instead taken shelter of a fortress
in the sea, a place where no brahminical principles are
observed. There, just like thieves, they harass their
subjects.
Text
38
Before
him whose good fortune was ruined, speaking such and more harsh
words, did the Supreme Lord not say a thing, like a lion silent
to a jackals cry.
[S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî continued:] Bereft of all good
fortune, S'is'upâla spoke these and other insults. But
the Supreme Lord said nothing, just as a lion ignores a
jackal's cry.
Text
39
Hearing
that intolerable criticism, covered the members of the assembly
their ears and went they away cursing the king of Cedi
angrily.
Upon
hearing such intolerable blasphemy of the Lord, several
members of the assembly covered their ears and walked out,
angrily cursing the King of Cedi.
Text
40
A
person dedicated to Him who does not leave the place where
criticism of the Supreme Lord is heard; he indeed goes down,
fallen away from his good deeds.
Anyone
who fails to immediately leave the place where he hears
criticism of the Supreme Lord or His faithful devotee will
certainly fall down, bereft of his pious credit.
Text
41
The
sons of Pându, the Matsyas, Kaikayas and S'rinjayas then,
angered raising their weapons, stood up ready to kill
S'is'upâla.
Then
the sons of Pându became furious, and together with
the warriors of the Matsya, Kaikaya and Sriñjaya
clans, they rose up from their seats with weapons poised,
ready to kill S'is'upâla.
Text
42
Thereupon,
o scion of Bharata, took S'is'upâla undaunted up his
sword and shield, insulting the kings in the assembly that were
the proponents of Krishna.
Undaunted,
S'is'upâla then took up his sword and shield in the
midst of all the assembled kings, O Bhârata, and
hurled insults at those who sided with Lord Krishna.
Text
43
The
Supreme Lord just then rising stopped His devotees and angrily
attacking severed the head of His enemy with His sharp-edged
disc.
At
that point the Supreme Lord stood up and checked His
devotees. He then angrily sent forth His razor-sharp disc
and severed the head of His enemy as he was
attacking.
Text
44
With
S'is'upâla killed there was a huge tumult of uproar as
the kings siding with him fled the audience fearing for their
lives.
When
S'is'upâla was thus killed, a great roar and howl went
up from the crowd. Taking advantage of that disturbance, the
few kings who were supporters of S'is'upâla quickly
left the assembly out of fear for their lives.
Text
45
Before
all of the living to see rose from the body of S'is'upâla
a light that entered Krishna like it was a meteor from the sky
falling to earth.
An
effulgent light rose from S'is'upâla's body and, as
everyone watched, entered Lord Krishna just like a meteor
falling from the sky to the earth.
Text
46
Extending
through three births obsessed with a mentality of enmity, was
meditating thus Oneness with Him attained [B.G.
4:
9,
see also
10.12:
33];
verily, one's attitude is the cause of one's rebirth! [see
B.G. 8:
6
& Jaya
and Vijaya]
Obsessed
with hatred of Lord Krishna throughout three lifetimes,
S'is'upâla attained the Lord's transcendental nature.
Indeed, one's consciousness determines one's future
birth.
Text
47
The
emperor gave in gratitude the priests and the members of the
assembly abundant gifts, respecting them all properly according
the scriptural injunctions, and performed the avabhritha
ceremony [of washing of himself and the utensils to
conclude the sacrifice].
Emperor
Yudhishthhira gave generous gifts to the sacrificial priests
and the members of the assembly, properly honoring them all
in the manner prescribed by the Vedas. He then took the
avabhritha bath.
Text
48
Krishna,
the Controller of the Controllers of Yoga, seeing to it that
the sacrifice of the king was performed, stayed a couple of
months [in Indraprastha] on the request of His
well-wishers.
Thus
S'rî Krishna, the Lord of all masters of mystic yoga,
saw to the successful execution of this great sacrifice on
behalf of King Yudhishthhira. Afterwards, the Lord stayed
with His intimate friends for a few months at their earnest
request.
Text
49
Then
asking permission with a reluctant king, went the son of
Devakî, Is'vara, with His wives and ministers away to His
own city.
Then
the Lord, the son of Devakî, took the reluctant
permission of the King and returned to His capital with His
wives and ministers.
Text
50
The
tale of the two vaikuntha residents that due to the curse of
the learned ones had to be born again and again, has by me been
related to you in detail [see 3.16].
I
have already described to you in detail the history of the
two residents of Vaikunthha who had to undergo repeated
births in the material world because of being cursed by
brâhmanas.
Text
51
King
Yudhishthhira in the midst of the brahmins and kshatriyas
bathing at the avabhritha of the Râjasûja shone as
brilliant as the king of the demigods.
Purified
in the final, avabhrithya ritual, which marked the
successful completion of the Râjasûya sacrifice,
King Yudhishthhira shone among the assembled brâhmanas
and kshatriyas like the King of the demigods himself.
Text
52
All
the gods, humans and beings in the sky [the lesser gods,
the pramâthas]
honored by the king happily returned to their own domains, full
of praise for Krishna and the sacrifice.
The
demigods, humans and residents of intermediate heavens, all
properly honored by the King, happily set off for their
respective domains while singing the praises of Lord Krishna
and the great sacrifice.
Text
53
[All
were happy], except for the sinful Duryodhana, the pest of
the Kuru dynasty and personification of the Age of Quarrel,
who, faced with the flourishing of the opulence, couldn't stand
that of the Pândavas.
[All
were satisfied] except sinful Duryodhana, the
personification of the age of quarrel and the disease of the
Kuru dynasty. He could not bear to see the flourishing
opulence of the son of Pându.
Text
54
He
who recites these activities of Lord Vishnu, of the deliverance
of the kings, the sacrifice and the killing of the king of Cedi
and such, is delivered from all sin.
One
who recites these activities of Lord Vishnu, including the
killing of S'is'upâla, the deliverance of the kings
and the performance of the Râjasûya sacrifice,
is freed from all sins.
