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The Tales in Mahabharata
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which name he is actually addressed in this context.304 Närada also is reminded of the event of partial incarnation which took place before, and sees Krşņa as such.305 Bhişma also conforms to such an attitude.306 Such references pre-justify in a philosophical way Krşņa's act of slaying Siśupāla which would otherwise have appeared autocratic.
IC.
There is a profusion of derogatory allusions to the events in the past lives of Bhişma and Krsna in the speeches of Siśupāla in Adhyāya 38 where Siśupāla revitalizes his oratorial attack. Allusions to Krsna's childhood adventures in kiiling the demons in various forms, in his breaking down the axis of the cart, in his holding up the Mount Govardhana, his killing Kamsa 307 etc. are followed by allusions to Bhışma's past life - his abduction of Ambā who loved someone else, his 'inability to have children, the insult of niyoga in his brother's wives being performed by a stranger (i.e. Vyāsa) etc.308 In between he also refers to the bird Bhulinga 309 and narrates the tale of the hypocrite swan. Bhişma simply derides him by relating his birth-story. Then Krsna himself alludes to some episodes showing Siśupala's attempts to harrass the Yadavas in an ignominious manner.310 An insulting retort from Sisupala on the point of Rukmini's abduction311 brings his death in a flash at the hands of Krşņa.
Duryodhana, while explaining his plan to Dhstarāştra, alludes to Indra's betrayal of Namuci312 to justify betrayal as a rightful code of political conduct.
In the latter part of SabP, all the allusions or tales are put into the mouth of Vidura, that Aisop of the Bh. Thus in the speech with which he tries to dissuade the intoxicated gamesters fron the ga ne of dice which has reached a dangerous stage, there are three allusions. The first is to the very famous "Maa-in-the Well" story. Vidura says : ''Having found toddy, a drunkard would never recognize the fall. Either, having climbid (the tre:) be siņks himself (ia the intoxication) or suffers a fall”. 313 The words madhu and prapāta have a covert reference to the famous story which is completely related by Vidura himself at the instance of Dhstarastra in StrP.314 304 SabP 22.33, where Krşna is addressed as 'vişno' and 'purusottama'. 305 SabP. 33.12, 14-17, 19-20. 36 SabP 37.11. Cf.
nün: m etat samādātum punar icchaty adhoksajab /
yad asya siśupāla stham tejas tişthati bhārata / 307 SabP. 38.7-11. 308 SabP. 38.21-23. 309 SabP. 38 17. 310 SabP. 42 7-11. 311 SabP. 42.15 & 18-19. 312 SabP. 50.20. 313 SabP. 55.4. Cf.
madhu vai mādhviko labdhvā prapātam nā'vabudhyate /
äruhya tam majjati vā patanam va'dhigacchati // 314 Cf StrP. 5-6,
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