Chapter 38
“Vaisampayana said,–The mighty Bhishma ceased, having said this.Sahadeva then answered (Sisupala) in words of grave import, saying,–‘Ifamongst ye there be any king that cannot bear to see Kesava of dark hue,the slayer of Kesi, the possessor of immeasurable energy, worshipped byme, this my foot is placed on the heads of all mighty ones (like him).
When I say this, let that one give me an adequate reply. And let thosekings that possess intelligence approve the worship of Krishna who is thepreceptor, the father, the guru, and deserveth the Arghya and the worship(already offered unto him).’
“When Sahadeva thus showed his foot, no one among those intelligent andwise and proud and mighty monarchs said anything. And a shower of flowersfell on Sahadeva’s head, and an incorporeal voice said–‘Excellent,excellent.’ Then Narada clad in black deer-skin, speaking of both thefuture and the past, that dispeller of all doubts, fully acquainted withall the worlds, said in the midst of innumerable creatures, these wordsof the clearest import,–‘Those men that will not worship the lotus-eyedKrishna should be regarded as dead though moving, and should never betalked to on any occasion.'”
“Vaisampayana continued,–Then that god among men, Sahadeva cognisant ofthe distinction between a Brahmana and a Kshatriya, having worshippedthose that deserved worship, completed that ceremony. But upon Krishnahaving received the first worship, Sunitha (Sisupala) that mower offoes–with eyes red as copper from anger, addressed those rulers of menand said,–‘When I am here to head ye all, what are ye thinking of now?Arrayed let us stand in battle against the assembled Vrishnis and thePandavas?’ And the bull of the Chedis, having thus stirred the kings up,began to consult with them how to obstruct the completion of thesacrifice. All the invited monarchs who had come to the sacrifice, withSunitha as their chief, looked angry and their faces became pale. Theyall said, ‘We must so act that the final sacrificial rite performed byYudhishthira and the worship of Krishna may not be regarded as havingbeen acquiesced in by us. And impelled by a belief in their power andgreat assurance, the kings, deprived of reason through anger, began tosay this. And being moved by self-confidence and smarting under theinsult offered unto them, the monarchs repeatedly exclaimed thus. Thoughtheir friends sought to appease them, their faces glowed with anger likethose of roaring lions driven away from their preys. Krishna thenunderstood that the vast sea of monarchs with its countless waves oftroops was preparing for a terrific rush.”
