Many illustrious guests were invited to the great sacrifice—eminent figures such as Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Kṛpa, and others of renown. Dhṛtarāṣṭra arrived, accompanied by his sons, and the wise Vidura was also present. People of all four social orders—brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras—gathered there, eager to witness the grand event. Kings from every land attended, bringing with them their subjects, O King, so that the assembly shone with the presence of rulers and their peoples. The brāhmaṇas, following sacred tradition, prepared the sacrificial ground with golden ploughs, and they initiated the king for the rite. Every implement used in the sacrifice was fashioned from gold, just as it had been in ancient times for Varuṇa himself. The guardians of the worlds—beginning with Indra and including Brahmā and Śiva—attended the ceremony, their presence making the occasion supremely auspicious. An extraordinary gathering filled the grounds: siddhas, gandharvas, vidyādharas, mighty serpents, sages, yakṣas, rākṣasas, birds, kinnaras, and cāraṇas, each with their retinues, arrived to witness the sacrifice. Kings came from far and wide, bringing their royal consorts, to the rājasūya sacrifice of the son of Pāṇḍu. All who beheld the grandeur of the event marveled, deeming it perfectly fitting for one so devoted to Kṛṣṇa. Priests of radiant spiritual power performed the rājasūya sacrifice for the great king, following every detail as the gods had once done for Pracetasa. On the day of the sacrifice, the king, lord of the earth, honored the priests and the venerable masters of the assembly with utmost attention, as was proper for such a momentous occasion. Soon, the assembly began to deliberate on who among them was most worthy of the highest honor. Yet no consensus could be reached, and the discussion lingered—until Sahadeva rose to speak. He declared, “Indeed, Acyuta—the Lord, master of the Sātvatas—alone deserves the highest honor. In Him reside all the gods, all sacred places and times, all wealth and more. He is the very self of the universe, the foundation of all sacrifices. The fire offerings, the mantras, the paths of Sāṅkhya and Yoga—all are directed toward Him. He alone, without a second, is this universe of non-duality. By His own Self, the Unborn One creates, sustains, and destroys the worlds. Observing all, He brings about every action here; whatever is sought—supreme good, dharma, and all else—arises from Him. Therefore, let the highest honor be given to the great Kṛṣṇa; by this, the honoring of all beings, and of one’s own self, is accomplished. To Kṛṣṇa, soul of all beings, who sees nothing else, who is peaceful and complete, should honor be given by one desiring the infinite fruit of giving.” Having spoken, Sahadeva, aware of Kṛṣṇa’s greatness, fell silent. The best of men in the assembly praised his words, exclaiming, “Excellent, excellent!” The king, hearing the brāhmaṇa’s declaration and perceiving the hearts of the assembly, was filled with joy and affection. He honored Hṛṣīkeśa, washing the purifying water from Kṛṣṇa’s feet and, together with his wives, brothers, ministers, and family, bore it upon his head with delight. Then he adorned Kṛṣṇa with yellow silk garments and precious ornaments. Overcome with emotion, his eyes filled with tears, he could not bear to look directly upon the Lord. Witnessing this honor, all present joined their palms and bowed to Kṛṣṇa, crying out, “Victory! Salutations!” Showers of flowers fell from above, blessing the moment. But the son of Damaghoṣa, Śiśupāla, hearing the praise of Kṛṣṇa’s qualities, was filled with anger. Rising from his seat, he stretched out his arms and, unafraid, spoke harsh words before the assembly, making his grievances known to the Lord. He invoked the Vedic tradition of Satyavatī, declaring, “The Lord is time, insurmountable.” Yet, he said, even the wisdom of elders can be confounded by the words of a child. Śiśupāla addressed the assembly, “You are foremost among those who discern worth; do not be swayed by childish speech. All the lords of the assembly have agreed that Kṛṣṇa is worthy of this honor. Those who observe austerity, knowledge, and vows, whose impurities are destroyed by wisdom—the supreme sages established in Brahman, honored even by the guardians of the worlds—how, then, can a cowherd, a disgrace to his lineage, deserve the honor of worship, just as a crow does not deserve the sacred offering? Devoid of caste, order, and family, excluded from all duties, acting as he pleases, lacking in virtues—how can he deserve the honor of worship? Their lineage was cursed by Yayāti and cast out by the virtuous, ever addicted to vain drinking—how can they deserve the honor of worship? Abandoning lands served by Brahmarṣis, lacking in Brahmanical splendor, these outlaws, taking refuge in the difficult-to-cross sea, trouble the people like bandits.” Thus, Śiśupāla uttered many inauspicious words, his fortune lost. But the Lord, like a lion hearing the howl of a jackal, remained silent, offering no reply. The assembly, unable to bear such blasphemy against the Lord, covered their ears, left the hall, and angrily cursed the king of Cedi. For one who hears blasphemy of the Lord or His devotees and does not leave that place falls from virtue, no matter how pious he once was. At this, the sons of Pāṇḍu, joined by the kings of Matsya, Kekaya, and Sṛñjaya, rose in anger, weapons in hand, ready to strike down Śiśupāla. Śiśupāla, undisturbed, seized sword and shield, rebuking the kings who sided with Kṛṣṇa. In that moment, the Lord Himself stood up, restraining His own supporters, and with a flash of anger, He severed the head of His fallen enemy with His razor-edged discus. A tumultuous uproar followed the slaying of Śiśupāla. His follower-kings, fearing for their lives, scattered in every direction. Then, before all eyes, a radiant light emerged from the body of the king of Cedi and entered Vāsudeva, like a meteor falling from the sky to the earth. Though Śiśupāla’s mind had been inflamed by enmity over three lifetimes, by meditating constantly upon the Lord, he became absorbed in that very being—for truly, one’s state of mind determines future birth. In the aftermath, the emperor gave abundant gifts to the officiating priests and assistants, honoring all according to the prescribed rites, and performed the concluding bath of the sacrifice. With the king’s sacrifice thus completed, Krishna, Lord of the masters of yoga, remained there for a few months at the request of His friends. Finally, though the king wished He would stay longer, the Lord, son of Devakī, took leave, departing with His wives and ministers for His own city.