Shloka 17
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
नैवर्त्विंग नैव चाचार्यो न राजा मधुसूदन: । अर्चितश्न कुरुश्रेष्ठ किमन्यत्प्रियकाम्यया
naiva ṛtviṅ naiva cācāryo na rājā madhusūdanaḥ | arcitaś ca kuruśreṣṭha kim anyat priyakāmyayā ||
Śiśupāla sprach: „O Bester der Kurus! Kṛṣṇa, der Bezwinger Madhus, ist weder dein Opferpriester (ṛtvij), noch dein Lehrer, noch dein König. Aus welchem anderen Grund—aus dem Wunsch zu gefallen—hast du ihn also mit Verehrung geehrt?“
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension between ritual-social norms (honoring priests, teachers, and kings by rank) and a deeper valuation of merit and spiritual greatness. Śiśupāla argues from conventional hierarchy to question Kṛṣṇa’s precedence, implicitly critiquing honor based on personal devotion or political preference.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s great royal rite (Rājasūya context), Kṛṣṇa is publicly honored. Śiśupāla objects, claiming Kṛṣṇa holds none of the standard roles that warrant such worship—priest, preceptor, or king—and insinuates that the honor is merely to gratify personal liking or favoritism.