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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Slaying of Sisupala

Bhishma started telling Bhima about Sisupala.  Sisupala was born as the son of the king of Chedi with three eyes and four hands. As soon as he was born, he screamed and brayed like an ass.His parents were scared. They resolved to abandon him but were stopped by a voice which said this child will grow up to be a great king. He will meet his death in the hands of one who has taken birth on this earth.
Hearing these words, the mother said she wished to know who would be this slayer of her son. The voice said,--'He , on whose lap this child will loose his extra hands and extra eye will be his slayer.

Soon a procession of people began coming to Chedi to see this son. Balarama and Krishna also came there. The queen placed her son on the lap of Krishna. As soon she did this, the extra arms fell down and the extra eye vanished. She asked Krishna to save her son. Krishna said he would pardon a hundred offences of Sisupala. Once he had crossed that, he will be slain.

Sisupala did not like this and kept on insulting Bhishma and Krishna.

While Sisupala was insulting the people, Krishna thought of the discus, Sudarshana. Addressing all he said, As asked by his mother, I have so far pardoned his hundred sins. The number has been crossed. Today, in the presence of all, I will slay him. Saying this he flung his discus, which cut off the head of Sisupala.

The last rites of Sisupala were performed with all respect. His son was declared the king of Chedi.

 Once the sacrifice was completed and Yudhistira was crowned, the invited guests all left. Duryodhana remained back, along with  Shakuni.

Duryodhana  with Sakuni explored the whole palace of Yudhistira. One day Duryodhana came across a crystal surface.Thinking it to be a pool of water, he drew up his clothes. Finding out his mistake he felt sad. Then mistaking a lake of crystal water adorned with lotuses of crystal petals for land, he fell into it with all his clothes on. Seeing Duryodhana fall,  Bhima laughed. The servants, at the command of the king, brought him dry  clothes. Beholding the plight of Duryodhana,the Pandavas could not control their laughter. Not used to be being insulted, Duryodhana could not bear that laugh. Concealing his emotions he left for Hastinapur.

He was dejected and told Sakuni about what he had seen and how he had been treated.

Sakuni said Duryodhana wanted Yudhistira's wealth and prosperity, it would have to be dealt with cunningly. In war, he would face defeat. A way out was to defeat Yudhistira in a game of dice.

Dhritarashtra tried to reason with Duryodhana and Sakuni, but they would not listen to him. Even though not happy, he gave permission for Yudhistira to be invited for a game of dice.

Along with Draupadi, the five brother set forth for Hastinapur.



2 comments:

  1. I knew that Draupadi laughed at Duryodhana and that is the reason of Duryodhan opted for bastra haran

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  2. What you said is correct. That is what I knew too. If you actually read about Mahabharat, you realize that there are many versions. Many poets, while translating the core Sankrit epic, added regional flavour and thus added stories. Draupadi's laugh may be is in one of those.

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