A/N

The event with Shishupal in this chapter, along with the scathing insults he hurled, are taken directly from the actual Mahabharata text. Well, most. And in reality, Shishupal only speaks with Bhishma and Krishna and not others.I initially referred to the BORI Critical Edition, but to be honest, it didn't feel as impactful because of the polished English. Then I switched to the Hindi version and my goodness, Shishupal did not hold back. The serials do not do justice to this scene because Shishupal says so much! It's not just a few words or sentences. It's pages of insults.

We often wonder how Shri Krishna could do something so drastic at such a grand event where every notable figure of Aryavarta was present. But reading Shishupal's insults, it becomes crystal clear. The man didn't just cross the line, he trampled over it and kept going! No wonder Shri Krishna lost it.

****

Krishna stood at the grand marble steps of his palace in Dwarka. The Narayani Sena stretched out before him as far as the eye could see—rows upon rows of warriors and their flags fluttering in the gentle breeze.  This was more than an army. It was a symbol of Yadava's strength and proof of Krishna's dominance in Aryavarta.

Behind him, he heard the soft sound of anklets. Devashree descended the palace steps with their little Pradyumna in her arms. The little boy babbled joyfully as his tiny hands tugged at the folds of his mother's saree. 

As they reached the bottom of the steps, Pradyumna's gaze fell on Krishna. Instantly, his tiny arms stretched out toward his father and he squealed in excitement.

Krishna turned and a smile spread across his lips as he stepped forward to take the child into his arms. 

"Ah, my little bean," he said lifting Pradyumna high into the air before settling him against his chest. The child giggled and his small hands reached up to pat Krishna's face. 

"Shree," Krishna said with affection. "You ready to leave?"

"Yes."

"Look, Priye," he said. "Your army is ready."

Devashree turned her gaze toward the vast expanse of warriors and chariots. Acres upon acres of land were covered in disciplined rows of soldiers with banners bearing the insignia of Dwarka.

"It's majestic. What about the other things?"

"These chariots are filled with treasures—gold, jewels, fine silks, and spices"

Devashree tilted her head thoughtfully. "Is this enough, or do we need more?"

Krishna chuckled softly, shifting Pradyumna as the baby reached for the edge of his crown. "You tell me, Shree." he teased her.

 "Swami, if this isn't enough, then nothing ever will be."

"Then it will suffice," Krishna said. He climbed his chariot with Pradyumna and held out his hand for Devashree to take. She reached out and slipped her palm into his as she stepped up to join him, taking her place at his side. They set forth for Indraprastha.

It took them almost four days to get there. Upon reaching they were grandly welcomed by Yuddhishtir himself. 

"Welcome, Vasudev," Yudhishthir greeted, stepping forward as Krishna descended from the chariot with a sleepy Pradyumna in his arms. "And welcome to you as well, little Rajkumar," he added.

Krishna bowed slightly. "Dharmaraj, it is always an honor to stand before you." He patted the baby on his back. "Hey, Tanu, it's time to wake up. Look where we are-Indraprasth. The grand empire of your Kakashree Yuddhishtir.

"He looks just like you Madhav."

Krishna smiled. "But he has his mother's charm. Kept us stopping every hour for him to eat."

Devashree climbed down and came to stand beside Krishna. She joined her hands in greeting. "Don't blame me and him Swami. He is a growing baby. You, on the other hand, stopped for snacks more than he did."

"Caught me," Krishna admitted."

 "Pranipat Bhrata."

 "Devi Devashree, I am so glad to see you once more. Please consider this your home as well."

"Devi? Why such formality, Maharaj?"

Yuddhistir chuckled. "Point taken Devashree. Come, the others are eager to see you both. Bheem is preparing a feast, of course, and I suspect Arjun is already plotting to steal you away Vasudev."

"Oh yes, my sautan is here. Now Swami will not even look at me anymore." Devashree said sarcasticallly.

"Shree, you wound me. Surely, you know there's no contest. My heart belongs only to you."

Devashree didn't even look at him. "Liar."

Krishna feigned a look of utter shock and placed a hand over his chest. "Liar? Shree, you wound me again! Have I ever given you a reason to doubt?"

Devashree raised an eyebrow, "Do you really want me to answer that, Swami?"

Yudhishthir chuckled at their banter "Vasudev, it seems even you cannot win against your wife. And truly, I'm not surprised."

Krishna turned to Yudhishthir  "Dharmaraj, I came here seeking your hospitality, not judgment! At least let me defend my honor."

 "Let's see how much honor you have left after your Parth comes to drag you off and you go with him like a kitten after its mother."

"Shree, jealousy does not suit you."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you enjoy having us fight over you, Swami."

Krishna grinned. "You know me too well, priye. But rest assured, no one—not even Parth—can take me away from you."

"We shall see."

Pradyumna chose that moment to babble something incomprehensible, drawing all their attention. Yudhishthir smiled fondly. "Even your son seems to agree with you, Devashree."

Devashree reached out to adjust the baby's blanket. "Well, at least one of them is loyal," she quipped, earning another hearty laugh from Yudhishthir.

"Come now,Vasudev. You and Devashree can settle this later. For now, let's head inside before Bheem starts devouring the feast he prepared for you."

Devashree laughed softly. "Bheem Bhrata's cooking is reason enough to hurry. I wished Tanu would have been able to taste it. Alas, he can only drink milk as of now.

Krishna looked at his son, who was now wide-eyed and gazing curiously at the new surroundings.

"It's so grand, Bhrata." That was an understatement. Because it was flowing feast and gold in the city. Every king in Aryavarta was invited. And not just kings, every Brahman, his well-wishers, his relatives were also invited.

They entered the hall and noticed every king present there. 

In the forefront were, Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, the intelligent Vidur with Duryodhan and all of his brothers.Behind them stood other powerful kings: Sulabha and Shakuni from Gandhara, Karna of Anga, Shalya of Madra, and Bhurishrava of Sivi. Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, Kripacharya, and Dronacharya were also present. Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu, Maharaj Draupad of Panchala, and Shishupala, the king of Chedi, whose hatred for the Pandavas was well known, was also there.

"Narayana Narayana!" Naarad Muni said just as they entered. He was seated the middle of the rajarshris. "O lord of men! Oh, how amazing is this!"

Krishna and Devashree smiled at each other and glanced at Narad Muni who continued.

"On seeing this assembly of great Kshatriyas, I began to think about something I had heard in Brahma's abode," he said. "You were all gods once. Brahma had once told the gods that they would regain their worlds only after they had destroyed each other. And so, Narayan was born into the Yadu dynasty—into the lineage of the Andhakas and Vrishnis. He was born as a human to keep that promise. You will regain your own worlds only after you have destroyed each other.' That's why this gathering is so significant."

Everyone looked at each other.

 "What could be more wondrous than this?" he continued softly. "That the self-creator, Narayana himself, would come to take away these powerful Kshatriyas".

The hall fell silent for a moment because very few of them understood what was being said. Narad Muni bowed to Krishna and Devashree who smiled at him. Before Krishna could say something, Arjun bounded over to him and grabbed him in a tight hug.

"Madhav!"

Krishna laughed, returning the hug warmly. "Parth! I knew you wouldn't wait long before stealing me away."

"Devashree!" Panchali exclaimed. "How are you?" 

Devashree turned to Draupadi who was dressed exquisitely. "Panchali! I am good.It's so wonderful to see you," she said, stepping forward to embrace her friend warmly.

Panchali pulled back, her gaze dropping instantly to the baby in Devashree's arms. Her eyes widened, and she clasped her hands together. 

"Oh my god, he is so adorable!" she gushed, reaching out to gently touch the baby's tiny hand. "Look at those eyes! He's just like Sakha Govind."

"Where's Pratividhya?" Devashree asked.

"He's fast asleep. The excitement earlier must have tired him out."

Devashree adjusted Pradyumna in her arms. "It's hard to believe how quickly they grow. I can't wait for the day they can play together."

"Ladies, why don't we all gossip afterward," Nakul interjected. "Look jyesth is taking his place. It's starting soon. Come all of you, take your seats."

The group made their way to the grand seating area, where Yudhishthir had already taken his place, surrounded by the other Pandavas.

Devashree took her seat beside Krishna, adjusting Pradyumna, who now gazed curiously at everything. "Swami, should I put him to sleep inside?" Devashree whispered to her husband.

"No need Shree." Krishna smiled gently at her. "Let him experience this, even if he doesn't understand it now. This is history in the making, and he is a part of it, just as much as we are."

 "Very well, but if he fusses, you'll be the one to soothe him."

"Sure." Krishna smiled.

They turned their attention to the centre where Bhishma Pitamah stood up from his seat.

 "Maharaj Yuddhishtir, these kings have offered their wealth to you. And they have stayed here. You now must honor them." 

"I understand Pitamah. You are right. I will honor all these kings one by one. But who should I honor first?"

"In my opinion, Vasudev Krishna deserves the first honor."

All eyes turned toward Krishna, who sat calmly. Shishupal narrowed his eyes. This mere gwala?

Yudhishthir rose from his seat. "Pitamah, your wisdom is unmatched, and your decision is one I trust completely. I too believe that Vasudev Krishna is the most deserving."

"Yes, yes Maharaj, Yadunandan Shri Krishna deserves this honor." Dronacharya agreed.

Bhishma nodded. "Among all present, Vasudev stands unparalleled. He has always followed Dharma.  It is only fitting that he receives the first honor."

A murmur rippled through the gathered kings. Some nodded in agreement, while others exchanged glances of resentment.  Shishupa scowled and he shot a glare in Krishna's direction.

"Then it is decided!" Yuddhishtir proclaimed. "Dwarikadhish Shri Vasudev Krishn will be the first to be given the honor of the pratham argya after which there will be the crowning of the king."

"Dwarikadhish Shri Krishna ki jai! Dwarikadhish Shri Krishna ki jai!" Everyone chanted except for a few. Devashree smiled proudly while Shishupal clenched his fists.

"Sahdev, bring forth the aarti thal," Yuddhishtir commanded.

Sahdev brought everything. Yuddhishtir and Draupadi took the plate and went towards Krishna. Draupadi took the water jug and washed Krishna's feet while Yuddhishtir knelt before him and carefully dried them using a silk cloth.

 Shishupal's fury simmered. His fingers curled into fists. How can they honor a man of such low birth...who is the least deserving of all?

Sahdev stepped forward with a garland of fresh lotus blooms and placed it over Krishna's neck with great care.

A garland of lotus blooms... for him? For this man who has always been a coward?" Shishupal thought, his fingers twitching at his sides. His jaw clenched so tightly that it ached. He could not, would not, accept this. 

When Draupadi did the tilak of Krishna and touched his feet, Shishupal's fury erupted. 

"THIS IS MOCKERY! I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS!"  Shishupal stood up.

"How dare you honor this... this man!" His finger pointed directly at Krishna shouting in a twisted fury. "A mere cowherd, born of lowly stock, no royal lineage, no worthiness, no claim to this throne! And yet you shower him with honor as if he is the greatest of kings! By doing so, you are insulting all of us present here! What honor is there in this? Is this the dharma you follow, Maharaj Yudhishthir?" Shishupal's voice became louder.

Devashree's gaze snapped towards him and she stood up but Krishna held her back.

"Chedi Naresh, what are you saying? Shri Vasudev Krishna is the most respected and fearsome in the whole of Aryavarta. We honor him not because he is our kin but because he is Sarvashreshtha, the greatest among men." Yuddhishtir said.

"Sarvashreshth?" Shishupal repeated mockingly. "You dare call him the greatest in Aryavarta? A man who abandoned the battlefield during war? He showed his back to Samrat Jarasandh in battle and fled away like a coward. He is nothing but a Ranchod!"

Devashree sucked a sharp breath. Her nails dug into her palms as she fought to keep her composure while pressing her palms over her baby's ears. Krishna's hand was the only thing stopping her from lashing out.

Narad Muni shot a glare towards Shishupal. "Narayana Narayana! Maharaj, you better listen to me. Either throw this man out of here or put a bandage on his mouth. Humans who do not worship Lord Krishna are considered dead even if they are alive. One should never talk to such people! Narayan Narayan."

Shishupal's eyes blazed as he turned toward Narada. "And who are you to judge my words, Rishi? You wander from place to place, stirring troubles with your mischief. Keep your tongue in check and leave this Sabha to kings!"

He turned towards the other kings. 

"Tell me all of you, my fellow kings. Are you better than this gwala here? This man who has no trace of his father. Sometimes he says that he is the son of that cowherd Nand, sometimes he says that Vasudev is his father! He does not even remember the name of his own father! He is nothing but a lying piece of dung! And Pandav Putra is calling this man greater than us all? This is so insulting to all of us! These Pandavas are making a mockery out of us. They have invited us to shame and insult us. This is nothing but a sham.Let us get together. Let us fight! With our combined might we can fight the Yadav and Pandav Sena together! We will defeat it."

"Yes we will!" 

"Let's call our Senapatis!"

"We will not let this sacrifice to be completed."

"We will not let this Ranchod be honored!"

Devashree fumed. "Swami, they are insulting you. Please, let me—"

"Priye, their words hold no power over me. Let them speak. Their time will come." Krishna spoke in a very calm manner. Yet Devashree knew him better than anyone. She could feel the tension in the air, the energy that surrounded him, waiting to erupt if pushed too far. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her hands clutching the folds of her saree as she glanced at the gathering. How could they dare speak against him?

"Pitamah, this Shishupal is encouraging the others to stop this yagya. What should we do pitamah?" Yuddhistir asked.

"Veer kuruvansho! Don't you be afraid. Can the dog ever kill the lion? We have already chosen our path. And we will stand by it. You will honor Vasudev and complete the Rajasuya. The king of Chedi is only barking. That's all he can do while Shri Krishna is calm. We just have to wait till Shri Krishna's patience wears out. Only till the volcano bursts."

Shishupal heard this and his fury knew no bounds.

"BHISHM! HOW DARE YOU! You senile old man, you are a disgrace to kuruvansh. You sit there boasting of dharma and wisdom, but you bow to this cowherd as if he is above us all!" 

Gasps rippled through the assembly. Insulting Gangaputra Bhishma was an unthinkable act. Yet Shishupal, blinded by his hatred, did not stop.

"How dare you threaten us? Are you not ashamed of yourself old man that you are talking against dharma? You know what, I get why you are saying this. I get it. That is because you are a third-class impotent!"

A collective gasp swept through the Sabha. The kings and warriors rose from their seats in outrage, disbelief, and unease. "Shishupal has truly lost all sense of propriety," murmured one king

"Swami," Devashree whispered in suppressed anger, "how long will you allow this to continue? He is not just insulting you, he is spouting utter nonsense."

"Priye," Krishna said softly, "a storm must spend its fury before the sky clears. Let him speak. His offenses are numbered, and his end is near."

Shishupal had forgotten all his limits.

"BHISHM! You call yourself the epitome of knowledge, don't you? But you're nothing more than a senile, arrogant fool! Your tongue should have split into a thousand pieces the moment you dared to praise that Ranchod!" He jabbed a finger in Krishna's direction.

"Silence Shilupal!" Bheem roared

"Oh shut up, you overgrown brute! What gives you the right to shout at me? Keep quiet! It's laughable that a man like you defends this gwala— who doesn't deserve an ounce of respect. I just can't believe it! How utterly ridiculous! A gwala! Praising a mere gwala is the height of foolishness! It's laughable!"" Shishupal shouted pointing at Krishna.

"What's so great about this so-called Krishna, hmm?" he sneered. "Are we supposed to be awestruck because he killed Bakasura and Keshi when he was a child? Hah! They were nothing but mindless beasts! There's no glory in defeating animals, yet you all speak of him as if he's some god!"

Shishupal let out a loud, mocking laugh. "And as for lifting Govardhan Parvat?  What utter nonsense! It wasn't a mountain, it was nothing more than an anthill. Any child could've done it. Yet you all sit here, bowing to this fraud, draping garlands around his neck, and calling him Sarvashreshtha. How pathetic! If that's what you call greatness, then you must be blind fools!"

"Swami, do something or let me put an end to his insolence!" Devashree snapped at Krishna.

"Priye, why are you even paying him attention?" Krishna's tone was soft as if Shishupal's words were no more than the buzzing of a fly. "When your handsome husband is right beside you, isn't that distraction enough?"

"Swami, this is not the time for your jokes." she hissed "His words are vile and disrespectful. He is calling you....such names! I cannot bear this!"

Krishna placed a reassuring hand on her arm. "Priye, your anger is born of love and for that, I am grateful. But for now, just observe how a man digs his own grave with his words. Let him speak. He has earned his fate.

Shishupal suddenly bent over his knees as he laughed. "See how he hides behind his wife's pallu. The Ranchod who ran away from Mathura, now hiding behind his wife's skirts in Indraprastha! Is this your savior? Speak for yourself, gwale, if you dare!

"Shishupal, I will speak when the time is right. Until then, enjoy the sound of your own voice and try to hold it for your own good. I know it is hard for you. But do try, otherwise your tongue will soon be silenced forever."

"See his arrogance? Is this the one you bow to O Gangaputra?Just how brainless can you be Bhishma ? How does someone who killed a cow and a woman deserve any praise?  Do you even hear the nonsense that spills out of your mouth? Or are you too busy clinging to this fraud's feet like a desperate old fool?"

Shishupal scoffed mid sentence.

"I don't know why I am even talking to you Bhishma, your nature is as rotten as his, isn't it? Tell me, where was your dharma when you abducted Amba, a woman who wanted nothing to do with you or your family? She loved someone else, but did that matter to you? No, because you're as selfish as they come! Even your brother Vichitravirya, spineless as he was, had the decency to reject her and follow the righteous path. But you?  You, the great Bhishma, stood there and let strangers father children on his wives. And now you preach to us about dharma? What a joke!"

Shishupal turned to the Pandavas with a sneer. "And as for you lot, you're even worse. Blindly following this shepherd boy like he's some kind of god. Worshiping this cow-killer, this fraud, this gwala who has the audacity to call himself divine! No wonder you're all lost, with Bhishma the Hypocrite leading the way. Maybe instead of licking his feet, you should first look in the mirror and face the filth of your own life! Or is self-respect too much for someone as pathetic as you?"

"YOU DARE INSULT PITAMAH AND SHRI KRISHNA LIKE THIS? I WILL SILENCE YOUR FILTHY TONGUE MYSELF!" Bheem's fists clenched tightly and his knuckles cracked audibly. His breathing grew heavier as he took a threatening step forward towards Shishupal. 

 "Bheem, stand down." Bhishma raised his hand before Bheem could take a step."This is neither the time nor the place for violence. Restrain yourself."

 "Pitamah, how can you allow this? He insults you, insults Shri Krishna! Why should he be allowed to speak another word?"

Bhishma sighed deeply "Bheem, calm your anger. Let me tell you why I remain unshaken by Shishupal's words, and why Vasudev Krishna has not yet acted. Listen and listen well."

"Shishupal was not always as you see him today. He was born with three eyes and four arms, a sight so unnatural that his parents, King Damaghosha and Queen Shrutashrava were terrified. But a prophesy declared 'There is one onwhose lap this child will be placed, whereupon the extra arms will falldown and the third eye on theforehead will disappear. He will be the slayer.'

"One day, they visited Mathura to see the little Yadavi. Shishupal was just a child then. When he was placed in Krishna's arms everyone was shocked because the extra arms and eye fell to the floor. The prophecy was clear: Shri Krishna was destined to end Shishupal's life.

Seeing this  Shishupal's mother was terrified. She started begging Krishna.

"Oh Devakinandan, my son is foolish and rash. Please, please don't kill him. Oh, I am so frightened."

"Don't be afraid buashree, tell me what should I do for you. I will obey your words, be it possible or impossible."

"Grant me a boon then! Give me a boon that you will always forgive him, My son has committed many offenses, but I beg you—spare him. I am terrified of what the future holds. He is my child, my blood. Please, forgive his wrongs."

"Oh buasharee, I promise! I promise that I will forgive his hundred sins. I will pardon Shishupal's offenses, even those deserving of death. But only One hundred sins. After that, justice will take its course."

"Tell me Bheem" Bhishma continued, "Who in their right mind will call me the disgrace of my vansh? It's clear that Chedinaresh is blinded by his arrogance. But what he does not realize is that it is not his strength but Shri Krishna's will that moves him. He is nothing but a pawn."

Shishupal heard all of this and his fury erupted like no other. 

"BHISHMA, YOU IMPOTENT SENILE OLD FOOL! You never stop praising that gwala, do you? Why don't you praise the real kings, the ones truly worthy of your adoration? Praise Darada of Bahlika. When he was born, he tore the very earth apart. And then there's Karna who has a golden kavach. Nothing can penetrate it! He rules over Vanga and Anga. Why don't you praise him, Bhishma? Where's your loyalty to someone who stands as a true warrior?And Drona! Don't forget Drona and his son, Ashvatthama. The father and son are Maharathis. Praise them, Bhishma! They are worthy of it. It is said that if either of them gets enraged, they could annihilate the entire earth, including every living being upon it. So, why are you so fixated on praising the ranchod? Trust me Bhishma if you keep praising Keshav out of blind devotion, no one will respect you." 

Bhishma scoffed in disdain. "The kings you talk about hold no candle to the great Vasudeva. In my opinion they—"

"Enough of your delusions, Bhishma! You disgust me! Didn't I tell you my fellow kings, the Pandavas have brought us here only to insult us."

 "Shishupal speaks the truth! What right does Bhishma have to insult us by placing a mere cowherd above us, the rightful rulers of this land?"

"No! This cannot stand!"

"Burn him!" a king shouted, his eyes wild with fury. "Gangaputra Bhishma is no longer fit to be called the guide of the Kuru vansh. He has betrayed the honor of kingship by bowing to a cowherd!"

"Yes!" another echoed. "Let us kill him and rid ourselves of his sinful presence. "

The kings stood from their seats, their hands gripping the hilts of their swords, their eyes glinting with bloodlust.

"We will burn you like an animal Bhishma! How dare you insult all of us."

Bhishma pitamah looked at them calmly. "Whether you kill me like an animal or burn me in a fire made of straw, it does not matter to me. But hear this: I place this foot of mine on all your heads."

The kings bristled at his audacity. Some moved to speak, but Bhishma silenced them with a raised hand.

"Shri Vasudev Krishna is here " Bhishma continued. "We have offered him worship, and rightly so. If anyone has a problem, I dare you to challenge him in battle.  I dare you to face him, and we shall see if you can bring him down."

The kings who had come forward suddenly took a step back. But Shishupal became very happy. 

"I DARE!" Shishupal stepped forward and pointed his finger at Krishna. " Oye Gwale, I challenge you. Come and fight with me until I have killed you, along with all the Pandavas! Are you going to run from this battle too, you Ranchod? Will you go hide under your wife's pretty little skirts again?"

"CHEDI NARESH! ENOUGH! " Bheem roared once more.

"I told you to shut your mouth, Bheemsen! You brute with the strength of a thousand elephants—what use is all that muscle when you lack the brains to back it? You're nothing more than a thug, blindly following orders like a dog chasing its master!"

"Do not insult jyesth, Shishupal!" Arjun snapped.

 "Poor me, how did I forget you. oh Arjun, the so-called Dhananjaya! The pride of the Pandavas. What a joke! The archer who dances to the gwala's tunes like a puppet."

 "Mock me all you want Shishupal, but don't think for a moment that I will stand by and let you insult Madhav or my family!"

Shishupal laughed, spreading his arms wide. "Oh, look at him! Makes me laugh so much Tell me, Arjun, do you even have a will of your own, or has your Madhav stolen that too? Perhaps you should learn to fight your battles alone before you lecture others about strength!"

"Shriman, your tongue is sharper than your sword, but it only exposes your cowardice. You insult my husbands, but we all know you would cower if faced with any of them in battle." Draupadi said.

Shishupal's eyes flicked to Draupadi and he grinned cruelly.  "And here she is! Panchali herself! The queen who shares her bed with five husbands and still dares to speak of honor. Tell me, Draupad Kanya, how it feels to be fought over like a possession. I suppose you must find it.......pleasurable to be passed from one bed to another."

Devashree sucked in a sharp breath and stood up in fury. The Pandavas roared in their anger. But it was Krishna who suddenly became the center of attention as he marched up to Shishupal.

"Shiphupal, you have just insulted the Lakshmi of this house, Have you no shame? To speak such vile words about a woman, a queen shows the depths of your depravity."

"Who are you to speak about honor Gwale? You were a mere servant of Kamsa, taking care of his cows. On what basis do you call yourself a king? You were his slave! You were eating his food and yet you killed him. Come here, come here, and fight me Ranchod. Fight me till I kill you!."

Krishna looked at him with a calm rage simmering in his eyes. "Shishupal. I have never harmed you once, but you have always tried to harm me and my family. You have committed countless sins against me and my kin."

"I have never sinned in my life!"

"Let me remind you then. When you heard that I had gone to Pragjyotisha, you went behind my back to Dwarka and tried to burn it down. When my brother from Bhoja were hunting in the mountains you killed them all and took them to your city. When my father wished to perform the Ashvamedha sacrifice, you stole the horse and obstructed it. You abducted Bhoga's wife when she was traveling to Souvira in your desire. You abducted Bhadra of Vishala. You even had the audacity to offer yourself to my wife Devashree."

Shishupal started laughing. "I can't believe you are bringing this here in front of all these kings.  Devashree was mine first. No self-respecting man will admit before respectable ones that his wife had been someone else's first. But look at you, shameless as ever! Oh, how amusing this is!" Shishupal mocked, spreading his arms wide. "But since you've brought it up, let's not mince any words."

He turned his leering gaze to Devashree holding little Pradyumna in her arms.

"This Devashree was mine first," he spat. "I was there first to ask her hand in marriage. The whispers of her beauty reached me long before you laid your filthy cowherd hands on her. I saw her, admired her, and claimed her in my heart. And you? You stole her, like the conniving thief you are!"

Gasps rippled through the court.

"Tell me, Gwale, how does it feel to bed a woman who once belonged to another man? Do you ever wonder if she compares you to me? Maybe she thinks about what could have been—what should have been—every time she looks at you."

Devashree's breathing became uneven as she fumed in anger. But it was nothing compared to the cold fury that all could see in Krishna's eyes.

"Shishupal" Krishna's voice was colder than ice. "Don't forget that I am counting your sins. You speak of my wife as if you were ever worthy of her. You are not fit to even utter her name."

"Oh, Poor gwale...are you angry? ..are you getting insecure now because you know that it is the truth? Even Devashree kows this, don't you Kripali?"  Shishupal turned to Devashree. "You could have been the queen of Chedi, ruling by my side. But instead, you lowered yourself to be this gwale's plaything." he sneered

Shishupal prowled closer to Devashree.

"Look at you now, standing there with that brat in your arms," he spat, gesturing contemptuously at Pradyumna. "That child—that could have been my son! Do you hear me, Devashree? Mine! A prince of Chedi, not some pathetic spawn of a cowherd!" 

Devashree's grip on Pradyumna tightened, her knuckles white as she fought to maintain her composure. Her eyes burned with a fury that could rival a tempest, but Shishupal wasn't finished. 

"Are you happy now huh?  That the child you carry is nothing but a bastard son of a Ranchod , born to a woman who settled for a thief instead of a king. Do you enjoy it when your husband dances with girls alone at night having a Raasleela? How lonely must you feel...knowing that your husband has so many lovers..."

Devashree's breathing grew labored, her lips trembling as she struggled to contain her rage. 

"Oh, don't look at me like that, Devashree," he drawled, spreading his arms mockingly. "It must sting, doesn't it?  Tell me, do you ever wonder how many of them he holds the way he holds you? How pitiful."

"You vile, despicable creature! My husband is more of a man than you could ever hope to be, and my son—my son—will grow to be a thousand times the man you are. Look at yourself before calling out others. A man so consumed by jealousy and spite that he can't see his own ruin staring him in the face."

"Your son? That brat in your arms?  Don't make me laugh. That child will grow up cursed by the same stain you carry—a stain of unworthiness. You speak of ruin? Devashree, you are ruin itself." 

"MAUN HO JAO SHISHUPAL!" Krishna's voice boomed. But Shishupal did not stop. He continued spewing things at Devashree.

"Your husband is nothing but the most lewd person to ever exist!"

"SHISHUPAL!" 

"You! You're the root of all this! A liar, a thief, a coward! You are nothing, Krishna! Nothing but a Ranchod who fled like a dog with his tail between his legs!"

 "Shishupal, that was your ninety-fifth sin. My patience, like my mercy, has limits. Don't force to act on it"  The kings and courtiers exchanged uneasy glances. 

"Don't threaten me, Gwale. Everyone here know that you are a third class coward!"

"Ninety-six, Shishupal." Krishna's tone was colder than ice.

"You are a man unworthy of even the dust beneath my feet!"

"Ninety-seven."

"I'll say it again and again, Ranchod! You're a liar and unworthy of even being called a man. You are filth!"

 "Ninety-eight."

"Arey go ask your mother, what is your father's name."

"Ninety-nine"

 "What? Did I hit a nerve, Gwale? Do you even have a father or are you a bastard?"

"One hundred. Agar Yadi tum ab maun nahi hue toh jibh ke saath saath sar bhi katega, Shishupal."

"What will you even do to me Gwale? 

Krishan raised his finger and Sudarshana Chakra whirred to life.  The court collectively gasped, their eyes darting between Shishupal and Krishna. 

"Shishupal,I have tolerated your insults, your sins, and your venom for too long. You have crossed boundaries that even demons would not dare approach. Your time has come. You have forced the breath to leave your boon. Now it's time that your soul leaves your body."

 The Chakra spun faster and its hum filled the hall. With a single glance from Krishna, the Sudarshan Chakra shot forward in a blinding flash, moving faster than the eye could see, and before Shishupal could utter another word, it sliced through his body as if it were mere cloth. In a fraction of a second, the headless corpse crumpled to the ground and the severed head rolled coming to a stop at Devashree's feet.

The silence that followed was chilling. No one dared to speak or even breathe. The blood that pooled around the Chedi Naresh's lifeless body was the only movement that remained in the room. No one saw the soul leaving the body. Except for Krishna and Devashree.

It was the soul of Jaya, the gatekeeper of Vishnu. He joined his palms and bowed his head towards them.

 "Prabhu Narayan, Mata Lakshmi and Lakshmiputra Madan. You have blessed me by freeing me from my curse. Kshma kare Prabhu, kshama kare Mate, mere katuvachan ke liye mujhe kshama kare....."

Devashree's eyes softened. "You have been granted Moksha, Jaya. Your soul shall return to the heavens, where it belongs."

Jaya nodded in gratitude and disappeared from view.

Krishna turned to the Arjun. "Parth arrange a funeral and also reinstate Shishupal's son at the next Chedi Naresh."

"Ji Madhav."

"Maharaj Yuddhishtir, please proceed with the Rajasuya." 

******

A/N

Sorry, it took such a long time to write this chapter. It took time to read both English and Hindi versions of Bori and understand exactly what Shishupal said. Do take notice that in real story Shishupal hurled insults only at Bhishma, Pandavas, and Shri Krishna. Thank you for your patience.

Do vote and comment. 

Until next time......❤️❤️