Shishupala (Sanskrit: शिशुपाल, lit. protector of children, IAST: Śiśupāla; sometimes spelt Sisupala) was the king of the Chedi kingdom, and an antagonist in the Mahabharata. He was the son of King Damaghosha and Srutashubha, the sister of Vasudeva and Kunti, as well as the cousin of Nanda. He was slain by Krishna, his cousin and an avatar of Vishnu, at the great coronation ceremony of Yudhishthira, as a punishment for his opprobrious abuse made against him. He is also referred to as Chaidya ("(Prince) of the Chedis"). Shishupala is considered to be the third and last birth of Vishnu's gatekeeper Jaya.[1]
Shishupala
Krishna slays Shishupala at the Rajasuya Yajna of Yudhishthira
The Mahabharata states that Shishupala was born with three eyes and four arms. His parents were inclined to cast him out but were warned by a voice from heaven (ākāśavāṇī) not to do so, as his time had not come. It also foretold that his superfluous body parts would disappear when a certain person took the child into his lap and that he would eventually die at the hands of that same person. Coming to visit his cousin, Krishna placed the child on his lap and the extra eye and arms disappeared, thus indicating Shishupala's death was destined at the hands of Krishna. In the Mahabharata, Shishupala's mother Shrutasubha persuaded her nephew, Krishna, that he would pardon his cousin Shishupala for a hundred offences per day.[2][3]
Rukmi, the prince of Vidarbha, was very close to Shishupala. He wanted his sister Rukmini to marry Shishupala. But before the ceremony could take place, Rukmini chose to elope with Krishna. This made Shishupala hate Krishna. [3]
When Yudhishthira undertook the Rajasuya Yajna, he sent Bhima to obtain the fealty of Shishupala, now king after his father's death. Shishupala accepted Yudhishthira's supremacy with no protest, and was invited to the final ceremony at Indraprastha.
At that event, the Pandavas decided that Krishna would be the first honored guest of the sacrificial ceremony. This angered Shishupala and he started insulting Krishna, calling him a mere cowherd and worthless to be honoured as a king.[4] He also started insulting Bhishma, calling his vow to remain a celibate throughout life as an act of cowardice. Bhishma became furious and threatened Shishupala, but Krishna calmed him down. Through this act, he committed his 100th sin and was pardoned by Krishna. When he insulted Krishna again, he committed his 101st sin. Krishna then released his Sudarshana Chakra on Shishupala, killing him on the spot.[3] Shishupala's soul was liberated and attained salvation by merging into Krishna's body.
The Shishupala Vadha is a work of classical Sanskrit poetry (kāvya) composed by Māgha in the 7th or 8th century. It is an epic poem consisting of 20 sargas (cantos) of about 1800 highly ornate stanzas[5] and is considered one of the six Sanskrit mahakavyas, or "great epics". It is also known as the Māgha-kāvya after its author. Like other kavyas, it is admired more for its exquisite descriptions and lyrical quality than for any dramatic development of the plot[citation needed]. His sons were killed in the Kurukshetra War[citation needed].
^Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 80.
^ This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Dowson, John (1879). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature. London: Trubner & Co., Ludgate Hill. p. 294. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
shishupala, sanskrit, protector, children, iast, Śiśupāla, sometimes, spelt, sisupala, king, chedi, kingdom, antagonist, mahabharata, king, damaghosha, srutashubha, sister, vasudeva, kunti, well, cousin, nanda, slain, krishna, cousin, avatar, vishnu, great, co. Shishupala Sanskrit श श प ल lit protector of children IAST Sisupala sometimes spelt Sisupala was the king of the Chedi kingdom and an antagonist in the Mahabharata He was the son of King Damaghosha and Srutashubha the sister of Vasudeva and Kunti as well as the cousin of Nanda He was slain by Krishna his cousin and an avatar of Vishnu at the great coronation ceremony of Yudhishthira as a punishment for his opprobrious abuse made against him He is also referred to as Chaidya Prince of the Chedis Shishupala is considered to be the third and last birth of Vishnu s gatekeeper Jaya 1 ShishupalaKrishna slays Shishupala at the Rajasuya Yajna of YudhishthiraPersonal informationParentsDamaghosha father Srutashrava mother SiblingsDashagriva Ramya Bali Kushadhysha brothers Suprabha sister Krishna maternal cousin Dantavakra maternal cousin ChildrenDhrishtaketu Karenumati wife of Nakula Mahipala Suketu Sarabha Contents 1 Mahabharata 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksMahabharata EditThe Mahabharata states that Shishupala was born with three eyes and four arms His parents were inclined to cast him out but were warned by a voice from heaven akasavaṇi not to do so as his time had not come It also foretold that his superfluous body parts would disappear when a certain person took the child into his lap and that he would eventually die at the hands of that same person Coming to visit his cousin Krishna placed the child on his lap and the extra eye and arms disappeared thus indicating Shishupala s death was destined at the hands of Krishna In the Mahabharata Shishupala s mother Shrutasubha persuaded her nephew Krishna that he would pardon his cousin Shishupala for a hundred offences per day 2 3 Rukmi the prince of Vidarbha was very close to Shishupala He wanted his sister Rukmini to marry Shishupala But before the ceremony could take place Rukmini chose to elope with Krishna This made Shishupala hate Krishna 3 When Yudhishthira undertook the Rajasuya Yajna he sent Bhima to obtain the fealty of Shishupala now king after his father s death Shishupala accepted Yudhishthira s supremacy with no protest and was invited to the final ceremony at Indraprastha At that event the Pandavas decided that Krishna would be the first honored guest of the sacrificial ceremony This angered Shishupala and he started insulting Krishna calling him a mere cowherd and worthless to be honoured as a king 4 He also started insulting Bhishma calling his vow to remain a celibate throughout life as an act of cowardice Bhishma became furious and threatened Shishupala but Krishna calmed him down Through this act he committed his 100th sin and was pardoned by Krishna When he insulted Krishna again he committed his 101st sin Krishna then released his Sudarshana Chakra on Shishupala killing him on the spot 3 Shishupala s soul was liberated and attained salvation by merging into Krishna s body The Shishupala Vadha is a work of classical Sanskrit poetry kavya composed by Magha in the 7th or 8th century It is an epic poem consisting of 20 sargas cantos of about 1800 highly ornate stanzas 5 and is considered one of the six Sanskrit mahakavyas or great epics It is also known as the Magha kavya after its author Like other kavyas it is admired more for its exquisite descriptions and lyrical quality than for any dramatic development of the plot citation needed His sons were killed in the Kurukshetra War citation needed See also EditChedi KingdomReferences Edit Gopal Madan 1990 K S Gautam ed India through the ages Publication Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India p 80 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Dowson John 1879 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion Geography History and Literature London Trubner amp Co Ludgate Hill p 294 Retrieved 19 September 2021 a b c Chakravarti 2007 www wisdomlib org 9 January 2015 Shishupala s Liberation Chapter 6 www wisdomlib org Retrieved 1 June 2019 S S Shashi 1996 Encyclopaedia Indica India Pakistan Bangladesh Anmol Publications PVT LTD p 160 ISBN 978 81 7041 859 7 Chakravarti Bishnupada 13 November 2007 Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata Penguin UK ISBN 978 93 5214 170 8 External links Edit Sisupala New International Encyclopedia 1905 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shishupala amp oldid 1168987395, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
