The Sanskrit epic poem 'Shishupalavadha', describing the killing of Shishupala by Krishna, was written by:

"Shishupalavadha" ("The Slaying of Shishupala") is a Sanskrit epic poem (mahakavya) written by the poet Magha, probably in the 7th or 8th century CE.

About the Shishupalavadha:

• It has 20 cantos (sargas).
• It is based on an episode from the Mahabharata (Sabha Parva), in which Krishna kills Shishupala, the king of Chedi, at the Rajasuya sacrifice of Yudhishthira.
• Shishupala insulted Krishna at the sacrifice, and Krishna, who had promised Shishupala's mother to forgive him a hundred times, killed him with his discus (Sudarshana chakra) when he crossed that limit.
• The poem is famous for its elaborate descriptions, its use of poetic devices, and its complex verse forms, including verses that read the same forwards and backwards, and verses using only one or two consonants.

There is a famous saying that Magha combines the best qualities of three poets: the similes (upama) of Kalidasa, the depth of meaning (artha-gaurava) of another poet, and the beauty of words (pada-lalitya) of a third poet: "Maghe santi trayo gunah" ("Magha has all three qualities").

About Magha:

• He is believed to have lived in Gujarat or Rajasthan (around Shrimala, now Bhinmal).
• He was the son of Dattaka and the grandson of Suprabhadeva, a minister of a king named Varmalata.
• According to legend, despite being rich at first, he died in poverty because of his generosity.

The Sanskrit mahakavyas:

• The five great mahakavyas ("Pancha Mahakavyas") of Sanskrit literature are usually listed as:
• Kalidasa's two mahakavyas.
• An epic by another poet, on an episode of the Mahabharata.
• Magha's "Shishupalavadha".
• Shriharsha's "Naishadhacharita".

Why not the other options?

• ✗Kalidasa wrote two other mahakavyas.
• ✗Shriharsha wrote Naishadhacharita.
• ✗Ashvaghosha wrote Buddhacharita and Saundarananda.