The Birth of Sishupala
In the Mahabharata, Bhishmacharya addresses Lord Krishna as ‘Damodara,’ meaning one who is very tolerant. This name is used in only a few instances in the epic, one of which relates to the birth of Sishupala.
When Sishupala was born, he had three eyes and four arms. As soon as he was born, he screamed and brayed like an ass, which scared his parents, who considered abandoning him. However, a celestial voice spoke, “Do not abandon this child. He will be very strong and fortunate. You can’t slay him now. The person who will slay him is already born.”
The Prophecy
Sishupala’s mother asked the celestial voice, “Please tell me who will slay my son.”
The voice replied, “When your son sees that person, his additional eye will disappear, and when you place the son on that person’s lap, his additional two arms will fall off. That person will be the killer of your son.”
Testing the Prophecy
The news spread, and kings from various provinces came to see the child. Each time Sishupala’s mother placed the child on a king’s lap, there was no change. After numerous kings had visited without any effect, Lord Krishna and Balarama visited Sishupala’s palace.
The Fulfillment of the Prophecy
In the Mahabharata (2.40.16), the Lord is called Damodara:
abhyarcitau tadaa veerau preetyaa caabhyadhikaṃ tataḥ putram daamodarotsange devi samnyadadhaat svayam
“And saluting everybody according to his rank and the king and queen also, and enquiring after every body’s welfare, both Rama and Keshava took their seats. And after those heroes had been worshiped, the queen with great pleasure herself placed the child on the lap of Damodara.”
As soon as the child was placed on Krishna’s lap, the additional eye and arms disappeared. Sishupala’s mother, anxious, asked Krishna to forgive all of her son’s offenses.
Krishna’s Promise
Krishna replied, “O aunt, I will forgive all his offenses. Even when his time of slaying comes, I will pardon him up to 100 offenses, and only if he goes beyond this will I slay him.”
Sishupala’s Blasphemy
Despite Krishna’s promise, Sishupala continued to commit offenses. During the Rajasuya sacrifice performed by Maharaja Yudhishtira, Sishupala openly blasphemed Krishna in front of everyone. True to His promise, Krishna tolerated the offenses until Sishupala exceeded the limit of 100 blasphemies. Only then did Krishna slay him.
Moral of the Story
This story exemplifies the unlimited mercy and tolerance of Lord Krishna, particularly highlighted by His name Damodara. Despite Sishupala’s continuous offenses, Krishna kept His promise and displayed remarkable patience.
Reflection
When things do not go our way in material or spiritual lives, our devotional service can be affected, and we may even blaspheme the Lord subtly or openly. Yet, Krishna tolerates our offenses and allows us to continue in devotional service, showing His boundless mercy.
In the month of Kartika, offering a lamp to Lord Damodara grants great spiritual benefits and advances our bhakti, irrespective of our situation.
Prayer to Lord Damodara
Let us all pray for Lord Damodara’s grace to continue and advance in spiritual life during this auspicious month with the following verse from Damodarastakam:
namo deva damodarananta vishno prasida prabho duhkha jalaabdhi-magnam krpa-drshti-vrshyaati-dinam bataanu- grhaanesha maam ajnam edhyakshi-drshyah
“O Supreme Godhead, I offer my obeisances unto You. O Damodara! O Ananta! O Vishnu! O master! O my Lord, be pleased upon me. By showering Your glance of mercy upon me, deliver this poor ignorant fool who is immersed in an ocean of worldly sorrows, and become visible to my eyes.”
Conclusion
The story of Sishupala and Krishna reminds us of the Lord’s infinite tolerance and mercy. It teaches us to remain humble and devoted, recognizing that our spiritual journey is guided by the Lord’s compassion and patience. By remembering and honoring Lord Damodara, we can seek His grace to overcome our faults and advance in our spiritual path.
Jai Sri Krishna! Jai Damodara!
