A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1690

c5.1690

SISU-PĀLA. Son of Dama-ghosha, king of Chedi, by Sruta-devā, sister of Vasu-deva; he was therefore cousin of Krishna, but he was Krishna’s implacable foe, because Krishna had carried off Rukminī, his intended wife. He was slain by Krishna at the great sacrifice of Yudhi-shthira in punishment of opprobrious abuse. The Mahā-bhārata states that Sisu-pāla was born with three eyes and four arms. His parents were inclined to cast him out, but were warned by a voice not to do so, as his time was not come. It also foretold that his superfluous members should disappear when a certain person took the child into his lap, and that he would eventually die by the hands of that same person. Krishna placed the child on his knees and the extra eye and arms disappeared; Krishna also killed him. The Vishnu Purāna contributes an additional legend about him. “Sisu-pāla was in a former existence the unrighteous but valiant monarch of the Daityas, Hiranya-kasipu, who was killed by the divine guardian of creation (in the man-lion Avatāra). He was next the ten-headed (sovereign Rāvana), whose unequalled prowess, strength, and power were overcome by the lord of the three worlds (Rāma). Having been killed by the deity in the form of Rāghava, he had long enjoyed the reward of his virtues in exemption from an embodied state, but had now received birth once more as Sisu-pāla, the son of Dama-ghosha, king of Chedi. In this character he renewed with greater inveteracy than ever his hostile hatred towards Pundarīkaksha (Vishnu), . . . and was in consequence slain by him. But from the circumstance of his thoughts being constantly engrossed by the supreme being, Sisu-pāla was united with him after death, . . . for the lord bestows a heavenly and exalted station even upon those whom he slays in his displeasure.” He was called Sunītha, ‘virtuous.’