Shishupal’s Grudge

The Rajasuya Yajna started by the Pandavas was on the verge of completion. The last rite was to confer honours upon the kings who had participated in the yajna. Before starting this, it was customary to worship the best participant according to the manner prescribed in the religious scriptures.
Sahadev, ruler of Magadha, proposed the name of Lord Krishna. Most of the kings and the Brahmins seconded the proposal. After the rituals of the Rajasuya Yajna were over, Yudhishthir told Lord Krishna, “As per Bhishma Pitamaha’s advice I wish to give you these offerings as a mark of respect.” Just then, Shishupal, the king of Chedi, got up from his seat and voiced his displeasure at Lord Krishna, a mere cowherd being honoured first.
Shishupal had an old grudge against Krishna because He had married Rukmini whom he wanted to marry. He went on calling Lord Krishna names and insulting Him.
The Pandavas were furious at Shishupal’s behaviour and threatened him to stop fighting. But Lord Krishna stopped them and said, “Shishupal is My cousin, the son of my father’s sister, Satyavathi. I won’t say or do anything untill he has used at least one hundred disgraceful terms for me.

“Shishupal was born with three eyes and four arms. When he was born, a heavenly voice predicted that his extra eye and arms would soon disappear when a certain person would pick him up in his lap. That person would be responsible for Shishupal’s end. Long ago, when I visited my aunt Satyavathi, Shishupal was an infant. I took him from the cradle and sat down with him on my lap. At that moment, his extra eye and arms disappeared. Then, my aunt made Me promise that I would pardon Shishupal a hundred times before I killed him. She also wanted that her son should go to heaven after death. I had agreed to fulfil both her wishes.” Thus, Lord Krishna remained quiet at Shishupal’s insults at the Rajasuya Yajna.
Lord Krishna had promised His aunt that He would pardon Shishupal’s hundred mistakes but not beyond that. During Yudhishthir’s Rajasuya Yajna, Shishupal had crossed that line. Lord Krishna wielded His Sudarshan Chakra and directed it at Shishupal. It severed his neck from the rest of his body and returned to Krishna’s hand.

Everyone present there was frightened as Lord Krishna had assumed His divine form or Virat Roop. They prayed that He calmed down. So, He came to His normal form and became calm as before.
Lord Krishna had cut His finger while wielding His Sudarshan Chakra. Seeing this, the wife of Pandavas, Draupadi, came to His rescue by tearing off a small piece of her saree and wrapping it around His finger. Lord Krishna promised her to repay her loan of kindness in the future.

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