Shishupala's Folly

Bhishma could no longer contain his anger. He said to Yudhishthira and Arjuna, "Don't waste time trying to convince someone who thinks Krishna is not worthy of respect. No one can deny that Krishna is more learned than the Brahmins and more courageous than the Kshatriyas. In fact, he is the greatest by both criteria. He is not only brave but also the foremost scholar of the scriptures."

Bhishma stood up and walked towards Shishupala. "The decision to honour Krishna is entirely appropriate," he said. "You are immature and whimsical. You don't even have the sense to conceal your hostility. It would be better if you left the assembly."

Shishupala’s anger had crossed all bounds of propriety. He turned towards Bhishma and began to taunt him. "You have become old and weak. Why did you choose to honour a cattle-rearer? Aside from killing the demoness Putana when he was a baby and lifting Govardhan Hill as a child, what great feats has he achieved? He is still a cattle-rearer. Your celibacy is of no use. You are ignorant,  foolish, and impotent. It was Krishna who forbade Bhima and Arjuna from accepting Jarasandha's hospitality and had him killed by deceit. Bhishma, you are not even worthy of being in this assembly."

Among the Pandavas, Bhima was angered the most. Unable to bear seeing Bhishma insulted like this, he stood up and challenged Shishupala, but Krishna stopped him. Shishupala, ignorant of the fate that awaited him, went on hurling insults. Arrogance and foolishness were apparent in his words.

Just then, Bhishma's voice reverberated throughout the hall. "Perhaps you don't know the reason you're still alive. It is because of Krishna's generosity. He has forgiven every insult you have directed at him. You were born deformed with three eyes and four arms, and it was prophesied that the person in whose lap your deformities disappeared would kill you. That person turned out to be Krishna. 

"When your mother learnt about this, she secured a promise from Krishna that he would forgive you a hundred times. No one has ever dared to speak to me the way you did today. Don't be a fool, son."