Mahabharata — Sabha Parva, Shloka 28
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
न त्वयं पार्थिवेन्द्राणामपमान: प्रयुज्यते । त्वामेव कुरवो व्यक्त प्रलम्भन्ते जनार्दन
na tvayaṃ pārthivendrāṇām apamānaḥ prayujyate | tvām eva kuravo vyakta pralambhante janārdana |
Śiśupāla sprach: „Diese Handlung ist in Wahrheit keine Beleidigung der Könige der Erde. Vielmehr, o Janārdana, bist du es, den die Kurus ganz offen täuschen—indem sie dir das Arghya darbringen und dich als den Ersten ausrufen.“
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how honor can be weaponized in politics: Śiśupāla reframes Kṛṣṇa’s foremost worship not as an affront to other kings, but as a manipulative act by the Kurus—showing how envy and rivalry distort ethical judgment and public speech.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s royal rite/assembly where Kṛṣṇa is offered the first honor (agrāpūjā) and arghya, Śiśupāla objects. He argues that the kings are not insulted; instead, the Kuru party is, in his view, merely flattering and deceiving Kṛṣṇa by granting him precedence.