Sisupala
Family: Chedi · Role: king · First appears: Book II (The Bride's Choice) · IV. The Suitors
In Book II (The Bride's Choice) · IV. The Suitors, Sisupala is named among the suitors of Draupadi, and the heralds praise him as “peerless king” of Chedi. In Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · IV. The Arghya, he turns in anger on Krishna; in Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall, Krishna recounts Sisupala’s attacks on Dwarka, the Bhoja monarch and his men, and Vasudeva’s sacrificial horse, as well as his assaults on Babhru’s consort and Visala’s princess. Krishna also says Sisupala aspired to his wife Rukmini.
In Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall, Krishna beheads Sisupala with his discus. Sisupala’s son is seated in his father’s place and hailed king of Chedi.
Relationship record
Life events
- Sisupala burned Dwarka and destroyed its market and temple.(Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall)
- With: Krishna
- “Once I went to eastern regions, Sisupala like a foe Burnt my far-famed seaport Dwarka, laid the mart and temple low!”
- Sisupala slew the Bhoja monarch's men and imprisoned the monarch.(Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall)
- With: Krishna
- “Once on Bhoja's trusting monarch faithless Sisupala fell, Slew his men and threw him captive in his castle's dungeon cell!”
- Sisupala stole Vasudeva's sacrificial horse.(Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall)
- With: Krishna
- “Once for holy aswamedha Vasudeva sent his steed, Sisupala stole the charger, sought to stop the righteous deed,”
- Sisupala forced Babhru's wife to submit to his lust.(Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall)
- With: Krishna
- “Once on saintly Babhru's consort, pious-hearted, pure and just, Sisupala fell in madness, forced the lady to his lust,”
- Sisupala disguised himself as a husband and clasped Visala's princess.(Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall)
- With: Krishna
- “Once Visala's beauteous princess went to seek her husband's side, In her husband's garb disguised Sisupala clasped the bride!”
- Sisupala aspired to Krishna's wife, Rukmini.(Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall)
- Krishna killed Sisupala by beheading him with his discus.(Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall)
- With: Krishna
- “Then the bright and whirling discus, as this mandate Krishna said, Fell on impious Sisupala, from his body smote his head,”
Book II (The Bride's Choice) · IV. The Suitors
- admired: Draupadi (Included among the princely suitors seeking Draupadi's hand.) “This is fair Kosala's monarch whose bright deeds our heralds sing, From the sturdy soil of Chedi, Sisupala peerless king,”
Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · IV. The Arghya
- enemies with Krishna (Sisupala directs his wrath at Krishna.) “To Yudhishthir and to Bhishma turns the chief his flaming eyes, To the great and honoured Krishna, Sisupala wrathful cries.”
Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · VI. Sisupala's Fall
- with Krishna (They are described as kinsmen, with no more specific kinship stated.) “Never in his heart hath Krishna sought to do his kinsman wrong!”
- enemies with Krishna “Then the bright and whirling discus, as this mandate Krishna said, Fell on impious Sisupala, from his body smote his head,”
- admired: Rukmini “To my saintly wife, Rukmini, Sisupala hath aspired,”
- child: Sisupala's son “Sisupala's son they seated in his mighty father's place, And with holy abhisheka hailed him king of Chedi's race!”
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Extracted from the original text of Maha-bharata, The Epic of Ancient India. Made with Rho MD.