Shloka 21
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
किमन्यदवमानाद्धि यदेनं राजसंसदि । अप्राप्तलक्षणं कृष्णमध्येणार्चितवानसि
kim anyad avamānād dhi yad enaṃ rāja-saṃsadi | aprāpta-lakṣaṇaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ madhyenārchitavān asi, yudhiṣṭhira ||
Śiśupāla sagte: „Yudhiṣṭhira! Welcher größere Affront könnte es geben als diesen: dass du in der Versammlung der Könige Kṛṣṇa mit dem Arghya geehrt und an die erste Stelle gesetzt hast, obwohl er die königlichen Insignien—wie Schirm und Chauri-Fächer—nicht erhalten hat?“
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension between external status (royal insignia and courtly rank) and inner worth (merit, virtue, divinity). Śiśupāla argues from protocol and hierarchy, implying that honoring someone without conventional royal marks is an affront to crowned kings; the broader epic context invites reflection on whether dharma is grounded in mere symbols or in true excellence.
During the great royal assembly connected with Yudhiṣṭhira’s imperial rite, the question arises of who should receive the foremost honor (arghya). Yudhiṣṭhira honors Kṛṣṇa, and Śiśupāla publicly objects, calling it a grave insult to the assembled monarchs because Kṛṣṇa lacks the outward emblems of kingship.