02.034
Pancharatra: Shishupala objects for honouring Krishna first, though he is not a king.
Shishupala said.
O Kauravya, this descendant of Vṛṣṇi, standing here among the great-souled kings, does not deserve kingly honor like a king. (2-34-1)
This is not proper conduct towards the noble Pāṇḍavas; out of desire, you have worshipped the lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, honored by the Pāṇḍavas. (2-34-2)
You are childlike and do not understand; dharma is indeed subtle, O Pāṇḍavas. Here, the son of the river (Bhīṣma), of little understanding, has transgressed it. (2-34-3)
A person like you, who acts righteously and seeks to please others, Bhishma, becomes greatly disregarded among the virtuous in the world. (2-34-4)
How is it that the Dāśārha, who is not a king, among all the rulers of the earth, deserves such honors as he has been worshipped by you? (2-34-5)
Or, if you think Kṛṣṇa is old, O best of the Bharatas, when Vasudeva himself is present and aged, how can his son be worthy (of this)? (2-34-6)
Or, is it that Vāsudeva, too, who desires his beloved and has acted accordingly, remains in Drupada? How then is Mādhava worthy of worship? (2-34-7)
Do you consider Kṛṣṇa as the teacher, or, O bull among the Kurus? The descendant of Vṛṣṇi stands by Droṇa. Why have you worshipped him? (2-34-8)
Do you consider Kṛṣṇa to be the priest, O Kurunandana? When the sage Dvaipāyana was present, how did you worship Kṛṣṇa? (2-34-9)
O Madhusūdana, neither the priest, nor the teacher, nor the king has been worshipped; O best of Kurus, what else could be done out of desire for what is dear? (2-34-10)
Now, even this Madhusudana of yours deserves to be honored. O Bharata, why have these kings been brought here only to be insulted? (2-34-11)
But we all give tribute, not out of fear of this great-souled son of Kunti, nor out of greed, nor from conciliation. (2-34-12)
We offer tributes to this one who is engaged in dharma and desires kingship, but he does not regard us. (2-34-13)
What else but insult is it that, in this royal assembly, you have honored Kṛṣṇa—who had not attained the qualification—with the arghya offering? (2-34-14)
Suddenly, the fame of the son of Dharma as 'righteous-souled' has vanished. Who would indeed perform such appropriate honour for one who has fallen from righteousness? He, who was born in the Vṛṣṇi lineage, had formerly slain the king. (2-34-15)
Today, the essence of righteousness has departed from Yudhishthira, and misery has settled in Krishna because of the offering of the arghya. (2-34-16)
If the sons of Kunti are frightened and miserable ascetics, surely you too must understand the honor that Madhava deserves. (2-34-17)
O Janardana, why have you permitted this worship, brought by the pitiable, though it is unworthy? (2-34-18)
You again regard as significant the worship you have not properly performed yourself, and, having obtained the remnant of the oblation, you wish to eat it like a dog in solitude. (2-34-19)
O Janardana, it is not you who have insulted the kings. It is clear that only the Kurus are insulting you. (2-34-20)
O Madhusudana, just as performing marriage rites among the impotent, or perceiving fragrance or beauty, so is the worship of a non-king like that of a king to you. (2-34-21)
King Yudhiṣṭhira has been seen, Bhīṣma has been seen as he was, and this Vāsudeva too has been seen; all this has occurred exactly as it is. (2-34-22)
Having said this, Śiśupāla rose from the excellent seat and, together with the kings, left the assembly at that time. (2-34-23)
