Krishna Decapitates Shishupala

But these words only enraged Shishupala further. "If you want to sing the praises of someone, you have warriors like Ashwatthama, Drona, and Jayadratha," he said. "Honour them instead. Why are you singing the praises of a cattle-rearer?"

He then challenged Krishna himself. "Krishna, come here and face me. The Pandavas are cowards; they don't know your true character. Scoundrel! Conspirator! Fraudster!"

Krishna listened quietly to Shishupala's volley of abuse, then stood up and said calmly, "I have never hurt Shishupala. He, on the other hand, has never missed an opportunity to hurt me. I have kept forgiving him because he is my aunt's son. He once burnt down Dwarka, but I pardoned him. He even wished to snatch my wife Rukmini away from me, but I chose to overlook this. However, he has crossed all bounds today."

Consumed by arrogance, Shishupala laughed loudly. "Yes, I lusted after your wife. How shamelessly you admit this! I don't need your forgiveness. Come and show what you can do to me."

Krishna reflected for some time. He then summoned his Sudarshana Chakra, which appeared on his right forefinger. "Let all the kings listen," he said. "I promised my aunt that I would forgive Shishupala a hundred times. He has now committed his one hundred and first offence, which I will not forgive."

He then unleashed the Sudarshana Chakra at Shishupala. The Chakra whizzed through the air and decapitated Shishupala in one swift motion. A divine light emanated from the corpse of Shishupala, King of Chedi, and merged with Krishna.