DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0313
TRIUMPH OF THE PANDAVAS 233
said, "is the origin of all things; the universe came into
being for him alone. He is the incarnation of the
Creator, the everlasting one, who is beyond man's com-
prehension."
When the Arghya was given unto Krishna, Sishu-
pala, the Rajah of Chedi, arose in wrath and said: "It
ill becomes thee, O Yudhishthira, to honour thus an
uncrowned chieftain. Gathered about thee are ruling
kings of highest fame. If the honour be due to age,
then Vasudeva can claim it before his son; if it is due
to the foremost rajah, then Drupada should be honoured;
if it is due to wisdom, Drona is the most worthy; if it is
due to holiness, Vyasa is the greatest. Drona's son hath
more knowledge than Krishna, Duryodhana is peerless
among younger men, Kripa is the worthiest priest, and
Kama the greatest archer. For what reason should hom-
age be paid unto Krishna, who is neither the holiest priest,
the wisest preceptor, the greatest warrior, nor the fore-
most chieftain ?' To the shame of this assembly be it said
that it doth honour the murderer of his own rajah, this
cowherd of low birth."
So spake Sishupala, the tiger-hearted one, and terrible
was his wrath. He hated Krishna, because that he had
carried away by force the beautiful Rukmini, who had
been betrothed unto himself, the mighty Rajah of Chedi.
Krishna then spoke. Calm was he of voice and
demeanour, but his eyes were bright. Unto the rajahs
he said: " Hear me, O ye princes and kings! The
evil-tongued Sishupala is descended from a daughter
of our race, and in my heart I »have never sought to
work ill against a kinsman. But once, when I went
eastward,, he sacked my sea-swept Dwafaka and laid low
its temple; once he broke faith with a rajah and cast him
into prison; once he seized the consort of a king by
said, "is the origin of all things; the universe came into
being for him alone. He is the incarnation of the
Creator, the everlasting one, who is beyond man's com-
prehension."
When the Arghya was given unto Krishna, Sishu-
pala, the Rajah of Chedi, arose in wrath and said: "It
ill becomes thee, O Yudhishthira, to honour thus an
uncrowned chieftain. Gathered about thee are ruling
kings of highest fame. If the honour be due to age,
then Vasudeva can claim it before his son; if it is due
to the foremost rajah, then Drupada should be honoured;
if it is due to wisdom, Drona is the most worthy; if it is
due to holiness, Vyasa is the greatest. Drona's son hath
more knowledge than Krishna, Duryodhana is peerless
among younger men, Kripa is the worthiest priest, and
Kama the greatest archer. For what reason should hom-
age be paid unto Krishna, who is neither the holiest priest,
the wisest preceptor, the greatest warrior, nor the fore-
most chieftain ?' To the shame of this assembly be it said
that it doth honour the murderer of his own rajah, this
cowherd of low birth."
So spake Sishupala, the tiger-hearted one, and terrible
was his wrath. He hated Krishna, because that he had
carried away by force the beautiful Rukmini, who had
been betrothed unto himself, the mighty Rajah of Chedi.
Krishna then spoke. Calm was he of voice and
demeanour, but his eyes were bright. Unto the rajahs
he said: " Hear me, O ye princes and kings! The
evil-tongued Sishupala is descended from a daughter
of our race, and in my heart I »have never sought to
work ill against a kinsman. But once, when I went
eastward,, he sacked my sea-swept Dwafaka and laid low
its temple; once he broke faith with a rajah and cast him
into prison; once he seized the consort of a king by