Rājasūya: Agrapūjā for Kṛṣṇa and the Slaying (and Liberation) of Śiśupāla
अर्हति ह्यच्युत: श्रैष्ठ्यं भगवान् सात्वतां पति: । एष वै देवता: सर्वा देशकालधनादय: ॥ १९ ॥
arhati hy acyutaḥ śraiṣṭhyaṁ bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ eṣa vai devatāḥ sarvā deśa-kāla-dhanādayaḥ
[Disse Sahadeva:] Certamente Acyuta—o Bhagavān, senhor dos Sātvatas—merece a mais alta precedência. Na verdade, Ele mesmo é todos os semideuses adorados no sacrifício, bem como o lugar sagrado, o tempo e os bens e utensílios do culto.
This verse states that Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa) is all the devatās and also the underlying reality of factors like place, time, and wealth—therefore He is worthy of the highest honor.
In the debate over who should receive the foremost worship (agra-pūjā), Śiśupāla addresses Kṛṣṇa’s claim to supreme honor—within the narrative this becomes part of the confrontation that culminates in Śiśupāla’s downfall.
It encourages prioritizing devotion to the Supreme (seeing God’s presence behind time, resources, and circumstances) and using one’s wealth, time, and place in service rather than ego-centered competition for prestige.