Part 66 (1/2)

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 a.s.sembly 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 s.h.i.+eld 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_).

THE SLIGHT OF DURYODHANA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 75.*

The fame of Yudhisthira went abroad. All sang the glory of the Rajasuya sacrifice. Duryodhana became filled with jealousy. One day king Yudhisthira was seated on a golden throne in the a.s.sembly hall, prepared by Maya, with Krishna and others around him. The proud Duryodhana, surrounded by his brothers, entered the place with crown on his head and sword in his hand, showering abuse on the gate-keepers and others. He took land to be water and drew up his clothes. He also took water to be land and wet himself. The Maya (Magic), displayed by Maya, in the preparation of the a.s.sembly ground, caused this delusion. Bhima laughed, and the females and other kings laughed too, though forbidden by Yudhisthira. Krishna however approved their laughter.

Overpowered with shame, with his head cast down, Duryodhana silently left the place and went to Hastinapura.

Krishna kept quiet. He wished to relieve the Earth of the weight of the Daityas who were oppressing her. It was only His will that Duryodhana should thus be deluded (and the disastrous results would follow).

SaLVA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 76-77.*

When Krishna carried away Rukmini, he defeated the kings in battle and, amongst others, he defeated Salva, king of Soubha, the friend of Sisupala. Salva vowed at the time to kill all Yadavas. He ate only a handful of dust and wors.h.i.+pped Siva. After a year Siva became pleased with his wors.h.i.+p and asked the king to name a boon. He prayed for an invulnerable chariot that would carry terror to the Yadavas. At the bidding of Siva, Maya prepared an iron chariot, called Soubha, which could move at will to any place. Mounted on this chariot, Salva attacked Dvaraka, with his large army. He threw weapons, stones, trees and serpents from above and demolished walls and gardens. The people of Dvaraka became very much oppressed. Pradyumna and other Yadavas engaged in fight with Salva and his army. Salva's chariot was sometimes visible and sometimes not. It now rose high and now came low. With difficulty, Pradyumna killed Dyumat, the general of Salva. But still the fight went on for seven days and seven nights. Krishna had been at Hastinapura. He felt misgivings and hurried to Dvaraka with Rama. The fight was then going on. Krishna placed Rama in charge of the town and himself went to fight with Salva. Salva tauntingly addressed Krishna who gave the king a heavy blow with his club. Salva disappeared. Instantly a man came and informed Krishna that he was a messenger from Devaki. Salva had carried away his father Vasudeva.

Krishna asked: - ”How could Salva conquer Rama so as to carry away my father?” But he had scarcely finished when Salva appeared with somebody like Vasudeva, saying ”O fool, here is your father. I will kill him in your presence. Save him, if you can.” He then cut off the head of Vasudeva, and entered the chariot. Krishna found this was all the Maya of Salva and in reality his father was neither carried off nor killed.

He broke the chariot Soubha with his club. Salva left the chariot and stood upon earth, club in hand. Krishna cut off his hands and then cut off his head with the Chakra.

DANTA VAKRA AND VIDURATHA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 78.*

Danta-Vakra was the friend of Sisupala, Salva and Paundraka. He came to attack Sri Krishna with club in hand and, seeing him, exclaimed: ”It is good fortune, that I see you. You are our cousin. But still you have killed our friends and you now want to kill me. I will therefore kill you with this club.” (Sridhara gives a second meaning to this Sloka. At the end of his third birth Danta Vakra was to regain his place in Vaikuntha. Sisupala and Danta Vakra, as explained before, were Jaya and Vijaya, gate-keepers of Vaikuntha. By the curse of the k.u.maras, they incarnated as Asuras. The third and last cycle of material ascendancy was to be ended. Jaya and Vijaya were not to incarnate any more.

Therefore Danta-Vakra exclaimed that it was his good fortune to meet Krishna and so on). Krishna struck him with his club and killed him. A flame arose from the body of Danta-Vakra, as from that of Sisupala, and it entered Sri Krishna.

Viduratha, the brother of Danta-Vakra was afflicted with grief at the death of his brother. He now attacked Krishna. Krishna cut off his head with the Chakra.

BALARaMA AND THE DEATH OF ROMAHARSHANA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 78-79.*

Balarama heard that the Kurus and Pandavas were making preparations for a mutual fight. He belonged to neither side. So he went out on pretext of a pilgrimage. He went to Prabhasa and performed the ablution ceremonies. He went to several other places and at last reached the Naimisha forest. The Ris.h.i.+s all rose up to receive him. Romaharshana, the disciple of Vyasa, did not leave his seat. He belonged to the Suta community, - a mixed cla.s.s, born of Kshatriya father and Brahmana mother, - but he took his seat higher than that of the Brahmanas.

Balarama thought that the Suta had learned the Itihasas, Puranas and all Dharma Sastras from Vyasa but he had not learned humility and self-control and that he had become proud of his wisdom. Balarama cut off his head with the tip of a Kusa gra.s.s. The Ris.h.i.+s broke forth into loud cries of lamentation. Addressing Balarama, they said: ”O lord! thou hast done a wrong. We gave him this seat of a Brahmana. We gave him age and freedom from fatigue, till the Yajna was completed. Not knowing this, thou hast killed one who was, while on his seat, a Brahmana. Thou art not regulated by the Vedas. But of thy own accord, do thou perform some Prayaschitta, and thereby shew an example to other people.”

Balarama enquired what he was to do. The Ris.h.i.+ asked him to do that by which their words as well as the act of Balarama both might prove true.

Balarama said: ”One's son is one's own self. So say the Vedas. Therefore the son of Romaharshana, Ugrasravas, shall be your reciter of Puranas.

He shall have long life and freedom from fatigue. What am I to do, O Ris.h.i.+s, by which I may atone for my deed?”

The Ris.h.i.+s asked Balarama to kill Valvala, son of the Danava Ilvala, who used to pollute the sacrificial ground on certain days of the moon. They also asked Rama to travel all over Bharata Varsha for twelve months, and take his bath at the sacred places.