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Mahabharata
Shishupala Badha Parva
Consolation to Yudhishthira. Words of Shishupala. Wrath of Bhima. History of Shishupala. The words of Bhishma. Killing of Shishupala.
Vaishampayana said:
Seeing that assembly of kings agitated by anger, as the fearful ocean is agitated by the winds at the time of the universal dissolution, Yudhishthira thus spoke to that foremost of all intelligent men, the grandsire of the Kurus, the aged Bhishma, as that slayer of foes, Purohita (Indra) of extraordinary prowess, speaks to Brihaspati. 'This .vast ocean of kings have been agitated by wrath. O grandsire, tell me what should be done now.
O grandsire, tell me what I should do now that my sacrifice may not be obstructed and my subjects may not be injured".
When Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, learned in morality, said this, the grandsire of the Kurus Bhishma thus spoke to him.
"O best of the Kurus, do not be alarmed. can the dog kill the lion? I have already settled some means that is both beneficial and conformable to policy.
As a pack of dogs bark all together at a sleeping lion, so do all these rulers of the earth.
O child, like the dogs at the lion, these (kings) are angrily barking before the sleeping lion of the Vrishni race (Krishna).
Achyuta (Krishna) is now like a lion that is asleep. So long he does not wake up this king of the Chedis, this foremost of men, makes these monarchs look like the lions.
O best of kings, O child, this Shishupala possesses but little intelligence. He is desirous of taking along (with him) all these monarchs to the abode of Yama through the agency of him who is the soul of this universe.
O descendant of Bharata, Krishna has been surely desirous of taking back to himself the effulgence and prowess that now lives in Shishupala.
O son of Kunti, O foremost of all intelligent men, the intelligence of this wicked king of the Chedis, as well as that of all these kings, have become perverse.
The intelligence of all men whom this best of men (Krishna) desires to take to himself become as perverse as that of this Chedi king.
O Yudhishthira, Madhava is the creator and destroyer of all the four kinds of beings existing in the three worlds.
O descendant of Bharata, having heard his words, the king of the Chedis spoke thus to Bhishma in stern and harsh words.
Shishupala said:
Old and infamous wretch of your race, are you not ashamed to frighten all these kings by these false terrors?
You are the foremost of the Purus-living as you do in the third state (celibacy), it is but fit that you should give such advice, which is so void of morality.
O Bhishma, when you are their leader the Purus are like a boat tied to a boat, or like a blind man following a blind man.
You have once again given pains to our hearts by reciting the deeds of this (Krishna), such as his killing Putana and others.
O Bhishma, arrogant and fool as you are, and also desirous of praising Krishna, why does not your tongue split into a hundred parts?
O Bhishma, how do you, superior as you are in knowledge, desire to praise the cowherd (Krishna) whose evil repute is told even by men with childish intelligence.
O Bhishma, if he (Krishna) has killed a vulture in his childhood, what is there to praise in that feat? What is there also in his killing of Ashva and Vrishabha, both of whom were ignorant of the science of war?
O Bhishma, what is there wonderful if this (Krishna) threw down by a kick an inanimate piece of wood, namely a car?
O Bhishma, in my opinion there was nothing remarkable in this one's holding for a week the Govardhana hill which is like an anthill.
O Bhishma, "while sporting on the hills, this one ate a large quantity of food," hearing these words of yours, many have been much astonished.
O (Bhishma) learned in the precepts of religion, what could be more wonderful than this one's killing Kansa, by whose food he became fattened and strong.
O Bhishma, O wretch of the Puru race, you are ignorant of the precepts of religion. You have not heard from the pious men what I would now tell you.
The pious men always instruct good men not to use weapons against women, kine, Brahmanas and the men whose food has been partaken, and also those whose shelter has been enjoyed. O Bhishma, it appears all this teaching has been thrown away on you.
O wretch of the Kuru race, wishing to praise Keshava (Krishna), you describe him before me as great and superior in knowledge and age, as if I know nothing.
O Bhishma, if at your word one who has killed women and kine be worshipped, what then is to become of this teaching? O Bhishma, how can he deserve praise who is such?
"This one is the foremost of all wise men," and "This one is the lord of the universe," hearing these words of yours, Janardana (Krishna) believes that they are all true. But they are surely all false.
The verses that a chaunter chaunts, though he chants them often, would produce no impression on him. every creature acts according to his own disposition like the bird Bhulinga.
There is not the least doubt that your disposition is very mean. It appears the Pandavas also who consider Krishna as deserving of worship and who have you for their leader are of sinful dispositions. Though you possess the knowledge of virtue, yet you have fallen from the path of virtue.
O Bhishma, who will so act as you have from the motives of virtue, knowing himself to be virtuous and superior in knowledge?
O Bhishma, if you know Dharma, if your mind is guided by wisdom, why was that virtuous maiden Amba, who desired to have another for her husband, was forcibly carried away by you? Your brother Vichitravirya who followed the path of the pious men,
Knowing her state of mind, did not marry her, though she was brought by you. Proud as you are of your virtue, in your very sight sons were begotten by another on the widow of your brother according to the ways of the pious.
O Bhishma, where is your virtue? your Brahmacharya is in vain. Your celibacy is no doubt the result of your ignorance or impotence.
O (Bhishma), learned in Dharma, I do not see your prosperity. You who thus preach morality does not seem to have ever waited upon the old.
Worship, gift, study, large-Dakshina giving sacrifices, these all are not equal to one sixteenth part of that merit which is obtained by the possession of a son.
O Bhishma, the merit that is obtained by observing many vows and fasts surely goes all in vain if one is childless.
You are childless, you are old, you are an expounder of false morality. Like the swan in the story, you shall now be killed by your own
relatives.
O Bhishma, the learned men have said this (story) of old. I shall presently narrate it in full in your hearing.
In the days of yore there lived an old swan on the coast of the sea. He always spoke of morality and used to instruct all the birds, but his conduct was otherwise.
O Bhishma, "Practice virtue and forego sin", these were the words that the truthful (birds) heard him say.
O Bhishma, it has been heard by us that oviparous creatures, (all) dwelling in the sea, brought him food for the sake of virtue.
O Bhishma, all those birds left their eggs with him, ranged and dived in the waters of the sea. But that sinful wretch ate them (eggs) all.
That swan, always attentive to his own purpose, ate the eggs foolishly trusted to him. Some time after seeing the eggs decreased in number, another greatly intelligent bird suspected him, and one day he saw him (eat those eggs).
Having witnessed the sinful act of the swan, that bird spoke of it to all the other birds in great sorrow.
O excellent Puru, then all those birds, witnessing with their own eyes the act of the (old), swan, came to him, and they then killed that wretch of false conduct.
O Bhishma, your conduct is like that of the old swan. These kings might kill you in anger as the birds killed the old swan.
O. Bhishma, the Purana-knowing men mention a proverb as regard this occurrence. O descendant of Bharata, I shall repeat it to you in detail.
It is this "O bird, though your heart is affected, yet you preach. But your this sinful act of eating the eggs transgresses of your speeches".
Shishupala said:
The greatly powerful king Jarasandha, who did not desire to fight with Krishna, saying that he was but a "servant", was (surely) worthy of my greatest esteem.
Who will consider praiseworthy the act of killing Jarasandha which was done by Keshava (Krishna), as also by Bhima and Arjuna?
Entering (the city) by a way which was not the (public) gate, and disguised as a Veda-knowing (Brahmana), this Krishna saw the prowess of king Jarasandha.
When that illustrious king offered this wretch water to wash his feet, it was then he said from seeming motives of virtue that he was not a Brahmana.
O descendant of Kuru, when Bhima, Dhananjaya and Krishna were asked by Jarasandha to eat, that request was refused by this Krishna.
If this one (Krishna) is the lord of the universe, as this fool thinks himself to be, why does he not then consider himself a Brahmana?
It is greatly surprising that though you often lead the Pandavas away from the path of the pious, yet they consider you (Bhima) to be honest.
O descendant of Bharata (Bhishma), there is nothing to be surprising (perhaps) in those who have got you, who is no better than a woman and who is old, to be their counsellor in all things.
Vaishampayana said:
Hearing his these harsh words-harsh both in import and sound, that foremost of all strong men, the powerful Bhimasena, became angry.
Under the influence of anger, his lotus-like eyes, naturally large and expanding, became still more extended, and also as red as the copper.
The assembled kings saw on his forehead three lines of wrinkles like the Ganges with her three currents on the three peaked mountain.
When he began to grind his teeth in anger, the kings saw his face resemble like that of the Death preparing to swallow every creature at the end of the Yuga.
As the strong-minded (hero) was about to jump up with great impetuosity, the mighty armed Bhishma caught him (by the hand), as if Mahadeva seized Mahasena.
O descendant of Bharata, Bhima's anger was soon appeased by Bhishma with various words of sound counsels.
That chastiser of foes could not disobey Bhishma's words, as the ocean never goes beyond its shore, though swollen with the waters of the rainy season.
O king, though Bhima was angry, the heroic Shishupala, depending on his own valour, did not tremble in fear.
Though Bhima was every moment jumping up (from his seat) with great impetuosity, yet Shishupala did not bestow a single thought on him, as a lion does not mind a small animal who leaps up in rage.
Seeing Bhima of terrible prowess in such great rage, the mighty kings of Chedi laughingly spoke thus.
"O Bhishma, release his. Let all these kings see him burnt down by my prowess like an insect by fire".
Having heard these words of the king of the Chedis, that foremost of the Kurus, that best of all intelligent men, Bhishma thus spoke to Bhima.
Bhishma said:
This Shishupala was born with three eyes and four hands in the dynasty of the kings of Chedi. As soon as he was born, he screamed and brayed like an ass.
His father and mother along with all their relatives were struck with fear (on seeing this fearful phenomenon), seeing these evil omens, they resolved to abandon him.
But at that time an invisible voice (thus) said to the king and his wife with their ministers and priest, all of whose hearts were paralysed by anxiety.
The Voice said:
O king, this your son, who has been (just) born, will become fortunate and superior in strength. Therefore you have no fear from him. Cherish this child without (any) anxiety.
O king, he will not die. His time is not yet come. He that will kill him with weapons has also been born.
Bhishma said:
Having heard these words, the mother becoming anxious by affection for her son, spoke thus to the invisible being.
"I bow with joined hands to him that has uttered these words regarding my son. Let him (the invisible being), whether he is an exalted god or any other being, tell me another word. I desire to hear who will be the slayer of this my son".
The invisible being then again said, "He, upon whose lap this child being taken, his extra arms will fall down on the ground like a pair of five headed snakes, and observing whom his third eyes on the forehead will disappear, will be his slayer." Having heard of the child's three eyes and five arms and also of the words of the invisible being.
All the kings of the world came to see him. The (Chedi) king worshipped the monarchs that came as each deserved.
And gave his child upon their laps one after the other. Thus the child was placed on the laps of one thousand kings one after the other. But what was heard (from the invisible being) did not come to pass. having heard this (about the child) at Dvaravati, the two greatly powerful heroes.
The Yadu princes, Sankarashans (Valadeva) and Janarddana (Krishna) went to the capital of the Chedi (king) to see their aunt, the princess of the Yadu race (the queen of the Chedi king).
Saluting every body according to his rank and saluting also the king and the queen and inquiring after every body's welfare, Rama and Keshava (Balaram and Krishna) took their seats.
When those two heroes were duly worshipped, the queen with great pleasure and joy herself placed the child on the lap of Damodara (Krishna).
As soon as the child was placed on his lap, his extra arms fell down and the eye on his forehead disappeared.
Seeing this, the queen became alarmed and aggrieved, she begged Krishna to grant her a boon. (She said), O mighty armed hero, I am afflicted with fear; grant me a boon.
You are the assuager of all men afflicted with grief; you are the dispeller of every body's fear". Having been thus addressed, the descendant of Yadu, Krishna replied.
"O lady, do not be alarmed. O virtuous queen, you have no fear from me. O aunt, what boon shall I give you? What shall I do?
Whether I am able or not, I shall do what you will say." Having been thus addressed, she thus spoke to the descendant of Yadu, Krishna.
"O greatly powerful hero, O best of the Yadu race, you will have to pardon for my sake the offence committed by Shishupala. O lord, know, this is the boon I ask".
Krishna said:
O Aunt, even when he will deserve to be killed, in such one hundred (occasions of) offences of this (Shishupala), I will pardon him. Do not be (therefore) aggrieved.
Bhishma said:.
O Bhima, such is this wretch Shishupala, a king with a wicked heart. Being proud for the boon granted by Govinda (Krishna), he now calls you to battle.
The desire, that cause the Chedi king to call you, whose strength knows no deterioration to fight, is hardly is his own wish. This is surely the purpose of Krishna himself, who is the lord of the universe.
O Bhimasena, what king was there on earth who could abuse me as this wretch of his race, who has been already taken for his own by Death, has done today.
This mighty armed (hero) is certainly a portion of Hari's (Krishna) energy. The lord (Krishna) wishes to take back to himself his that energy.
O best of the Kuru race, for this reason (only) this wicked-minded and tiger like Chedi king roars in this way without caring little for any of us.
Vaishampayana said:
Having heard these words of Bhishma, the Chedi king could not brook them. He thus replied to Bhishma in great wrath.
Shishupala said:
O Bhishma, when always rising from your seat you are praising his like a (professional) chaunter, let our enemies possess that prowess which is possessed by this Keshava (Krishna).
O Bhishma, if your mind takes pleasure in praising others, then praise these kings (present) here, and leave of Janarddana (Krishna).
Praise this best of kings Danda, the monarch of Valhika, who, as soon as he was born, rent this earth.
O Bhishma, praise this Karna, the king of Anga and Banga, who is like Indra in strength, who draws the great bow.
Who is adorned with the celestials earrings of heavenly make and with the armour possessing the splendour of the rising sun, with (both of) which he was born.
And who vanquished and mangled in a wrestling match the greatly invincible Jarasandha equal to Vasava (Indra).
O Bhishma, praise always Drona and his son (Ashvathama),who are, both father and son, worthy of praise, who are great car-warriors, and who are best of Brahmanas.
O Bhishma, it is my opinion that if they are enraged, either of the two can annihilate this earth with all its mobile and immobile creatures.
O Bhishma, I do not see any king who is equal to Drona or Ashvathama in battle. Why do you not desire to praise them?
Passing over Duryodhana who is the mighty-armed king of kings, and who is unrivalled on earth girt with the seas.
Also king Jayadratha, who is accomplished in weapons and who is of great prowess; and also Druma, the preceptor of the Kimpurushas, who is renowned on earth for his prowess.
And also old Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, who is the preceptor of the Bharata race, passing over these greatly powerful men, why do you praise Keshava (Krishna)?
Passing over that foremost of bowmen, that excellent man,, the greatly powerful Rukmin, why do you praise Keshava?
Passing over the greatly energetic Bhishmaka, and the king Dantavakra, and also Bhagadatta celebrated for his many sacrificial stakes, the king of Magadha Jayatsena.
And also Drupada and Virata, Shakuni and Brihadbala, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, Pandya, Shveta, Uttama.
The greatly prosperous Shankha, the proud Vrishasena, the powerful Ekalavya, the great car-warrior the king of Kalinga, passing over all these powerful men, why do you praise Keshava?
O Bhishma, if your mind is always eager to praise others, why do you not praise Shalya and other rulers of the earth?
O king, what am I capable of doing (giving you good advice) when you have never before heard any thing from the virtuous men who are learned in the precepts of virtue?
O Bhishma, have you not heard that reproach and glorification of self and reproach and glorification of others are not the practices of those who are respectable?
O Bhishma, there is none who approves your conduct in thus continually praising this Keshava, who is unworthy of any praise; you (surely) do it from ignorance alone.
How can you from your desire alone establish the whole universe in this wicked minded slave and cow-heard of Vraja.
O descendant of Bharata, perhaps your inclination is not conformable to your true nature, like that of the bird Bhulinga, the story of which has been already told by me.
O Bhishma, there was a bird, called Bhulinga living on the other side of the Himalayas. His words were always without any meaning.
"Never act rashly" was what he always said, but he never knew that he himself always acted rashly.
O Bhishma, that foolish bird used to pick from the lion's mouth the pieces of flesh sticking between its teeth when the lion was engaged in eating.
O Bhishma, that bird surely lived at the pleasure of the lion. O sinful wretch, you always speak like that bird.
O Bhishma, surely you live at the pleasure of these kings. There is none else like you who is engaged in doing things contrary to the opinions of all.
Vaishampayana said:
O king, having heard these rude and harsh words of the Chedi king, Bhishma spoke thus in the hearing of the king of Chedi.
Bhishma said:
Truly am I alive at the pleasure of these rulers of earth. But I do not consider these kings as equal to even straws.
Vaishampayana said:
Having been thus addressed by Bhishma, the kings became full of anger. Some amongst them stood erect and some began to reproach Bhishma.
Having heard these words of Bhishma, some of these great bowmen said, This sinful wretch, Bhishma, though old, is exceedingly boastful. He deserves no pardon.
Therefore, O kings, let this wicked minded Bhishma be killed like an animal, or let us master all together, and let him be burnt in a fire made of straw".
Having heard their these words, the grandsire of the Kurus, the intelligent Bhishma, then thus spoke to the kings-
Bhishma said:
O rulers of earth, I do not see the ends of our speeches, for words may be answered with words. Therefore, listen to what I say.
Whether I may be killed by you like an animal or be burnt in a fire made of straw, I say, I place my foot on the head of all.
Here is Govinda (Krishna) who knows no deterioration. Him have we worshipped. Let him, who is willing to meet a speedy death call today to battle Madhava, Krishna, the wielder of discus and club, falling (in the battle), let him enter and mix with the body of this Deity.
Vaishampayana said:
Having heard these words of Bhishma, the greatly powerful Chedi King, being desirous of fighting with Vasudeva (Krishna), thus spoke to Vasudeva.
Shishupala said:
O Janardana, I challenge you. Come, fight me with till I kill you today with all the Pandavas.
O Krishna, the Pandavas also deserve to be killed by me with you, for they having passed over all these kings, have worshipped you who are not a king.
O Krishna, it is my opinion that those, that have from childishness worshipped you, as if you deserve it, although you are unworthy of worship, you being only a slave and a wretch and not a king, deserve to be killed by me.
Vaishampayana said:
Having said his, that best of men (Shishupala) stood up and roared in anger. When he ceased (talking), Krishna spoke these words in a soft voice to all the kings in the presence of the Pandavas.
Krishna said:
O kings, this cruel-hearted man who is the son of a lady of the Satvata race is a great enemy of the Satvata race. Though we never seek to injure him, yet he always seek to do us injury.
O king, hearing that we had gone to the city of Pragjyotisha, this wretch of cruel deeds came and burnt Dwarka, though he is the son of my aunt (father's sister).
When the Bhoja king was sporting on the Raivataka hill, he killed many of that king's attendant and carried away many in chains to his own city.
This wretch, sinful in all his purposes, in order to obstruct my father's sacrifice, stole the horse of the horse-sacrifice which was let loose under armed guards.
This wretch, prompted by sinful motives, though she was unwilling, stole the wife of saintly Babhru (Akura), when she was on her way from Dwarka to the country of the Sauviras.
This wretch, ever intent to injure his maternal uncle, ravished in the disguise of the king of Karusha the saintly Bhadra, the princess of Vishala, who was the intended bride of the
I have patiently born all these for the sake of my father's sister. It is, however, very fortunate that (today) all this has happened before all these kings.
Look, Sirs, at the hostility that he bears towards me. Known also all that he has done against me at my back.
He deserves to be killed by me only on account of the great pride that he has displayed today before all these kings. I am hardly able to pardon him to day for the injuries he has done me.
Desirous as he was of a speedy death, this fool had (once) desired to possess Rukmani (Krishna's wife), but the fool did not obtain her, as a Shudra cannot get a hearing of the Vedas.
Vaishampayana said:
Having heard these words of Vasudeva, all the kings assembled there, began to reproach the Chedi King.
Having heard these words, the powerful Shishupala laughed aloud and spoke these words.
Shishupala said:
O Krishna, are you not ashamed to talk in this assembly, specially before all these kings, of Rukmani who had been intended for me.
O slayer of Madhu, who else is there but you who, regarding himself a man, would say in the midst of respectable men that his wife was intended for some body else?
O Krishna, if you please pardon me or pardon me not. Angry of friendly, what can you do to me?
Vaishampayana said:
When he (Shishupala) was thus talking, the high-souled slayer of Madhu, (Krishna), thought in his mind of the discus that humbles the pride of the Daityas.
As soon as the discus came into his hands, the skillful speaker, the high-souled (Krishna), spoke loudly these words.
Krishna said:
O rulers of earth, hear why this man has been hither to pardoned by me. Asked by his mother, I promised to pardon his one hundred offences.
This was the boon that she asked me and this was the boon that I granted to her. O kings, that number has (now) become full. I shall now kill him in the presence of the kings.
Vaishampayana said:
Having said this, the chief of the Yadu race, that chastiser of foes (Krishna), immediately cut off in anger by his discus, the head of the Chedi king.
The mighty armed hero fell like a cliff struck by thunder. The kings saw a fearful effulgence from the body of the Chedi king.
Issuing like that of the sun in the sky. O great king, that effulgence then adorned the lotus-eyed Krishna, ever worshipped by all the worlds, and it then entered his (Krishna's ) body.
Seeing the effulgence (of Shishupala) enter (the body of) that mighty armed and excellent of men (Krishna), all the kings thought (the phenomenon) as very wonderful.
When the Chedi king was killed by Krishna, the cloudless sky poured showers of rain, blasting thunders were hurled and the earth itself began to tremble.
Some amongst those kings did not speak a word during those unspeakable moments; they sat gazing at Janardana (Krishna).
Some rubbed in anger their palms with their fore fingers, others, being deprived of their senses by anger, bit their lips with their teeth,
Some kings praised the Vrishni hero in private, some became exited with anger, while others became mediators.
The great Rishis became much pleased and praised Keshava (Krishna), and the high-souled Brahmanas and the greatly powerful kings, seeing the prowess of Krishna, became glad at heart and praised him. The Pandava (Yudhishthira) then commanded his brothers to perform the funeral ceremony of the king (Shishupala).
The heroic son of Damaghosha without delay and with all proper respect. They obeyed (their brother's command). Then the son of Pritha (Yudhishthira), with his brothers and with all the kings, installed the son of the king Shishupala in the kingdom of Chedi.
O king, furnished with plentiful of corn, rice and every king of food and with abundance of wealth that sacrifice of the greatly effulgent king of the Kurus, blessed with every king of prosperity, and well protected by Keshava, commenced with all auspicious ceremonies and became exceedingly beautiful and pleasing to all young men.
So long the great Rajasuya sacrifice was not completed, the mighty armed Janardana, the illustrious Shauri (Krishna), guarded it with his bow, called Sharanga, and with his discus and club, and thus in due time it was completed.
Thereupon all the Kshatriya kings came to the virtuous minded Yudhishthira who had bathed (after the completion of the sacrifice) and thus spoke to him.
"O virtuous man, you have grown in prosperity by good fortune. You have acquired the imperial dignity. The fame of the Ajamida race has been greatly increased by (you) the descendant of Ajamida.
O king of kings, you have acquired great religious merit by your this act. O best of kings, we tell you we have been worshipped by you to the full extent of our desires.
We now desire to return to our own kingdoms. You should give us permission". Having heard the words of the kings, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira.
Worshipped them as each deserved, and then commanded his brothers thus, "All these kings have come to us at their own pleasure;
These chastisers of foes are now desirous of returning to their kingdoms after bidding me farewell. Blessed (brothers), follow these excellent kings to the confines of our kingdom".
Having been thus commanded by their brothers, the virtuous Pandava princes followed the kings one after the other as each deserved.
The powerful Dhristadyumna followed the king of Virata. Dhananjaya (Arjuna) followed the great car-warrior and high-souled Yajnasena.
The mighty Bhimasena followed Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. The lord of battle, Sahadeva, followed the heroic Drona and his son.
O king, Nakula followed Subala and his son, the sons of Draupadi and the son of Subhadra followed the great car-warrior, the mountain kings.
The other best of Kshatriyas followed others Kshatriyas; and thousands of Brahmanas also, after being duly worshipped, went away.
On the departure of all the kings and the Brahmanas, the powerful Vasudeva (Krishna) thus spoke to Yudhishthira.
Krishna said:
O descendant of Kuru, with your permission I shall now go to Dwarka. By good fortune you have accomplished the best of sacrifices, Rajasuya.
Vaishampayana said:
Having been thus addressed Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) thus replied to Janardana (Krishna), "O Govinda, through your grace I have accomplished the great sacrifice.
Through your grace, all the Kshatriya (kings) came under my sway and brought here for me valuable tribute.
O sinless one, O hero, how can I give you permission to go? Without you my heart never feels any delight.
But (1 know) you must have to go to the city of Dwarka". Having been thus addressed, the virtuous-minded and the world renowned Hari (Krishna), accompanied by Yudhishthira, went to Pritha and cheerfully said, "O Aunt, your sons have today obtained the imperial dignity.
They have obtained vast wealth, and they have been crowned with success. Be pleased with all this; with your permission I shall now to go to Dwarka.
Keshava (Krishna) then bade farewell to Subhadra and Draupadi. Then he came out of the inner apartments accompanied by Yudhishthira.
He performed his ablutions and went through the daily rites of worship. The Brahmanas uttered benedictions. Then the mighty armed Daruka came with the car of excellent make and the body resembling the clouds. Seeing the Garuda-bannered car arrived. The high-souled and lotus-eyed (Krishna) walked round it respectfully and ascending on it, started for the city of Dvaravati.
The blessed Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, accompanied by his brothers followed on foot the greatly powerful Vasudeva (Krishna).
Then the lotus-eyed Hari (Krishna) stopped for a moment that excellent chariot; and thus spoke to the son of Kunti Yudhishthira.
"O kings, cherish your subjects with ceaseless vigilance and patience. As the clouds are to all creatures, as the large tree to the birds.
And as the thousand-eyed deity (Indra) to the immortals, so you also become the refuge of all your friends and relatives". Krishna and the Pandava (Yudhishthira), thus talking with each other,
Took each other's leave and went towards their respective homes. O king, when the foremost of the Satvata race, Krishna, had gone away to Dvaravati.
King Duryodhana and the son of Subala, Shakuni, these two best of men only remained in that celestials Sabha (assembly-hall).
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