Shloka 29
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
क्लीबे दारक्रिया यादृगन्धे वा रूपदर्शनम् । अराज्ञो राजवत् पूजा तथा ते मधुसूदन
klībe dārakriyā yādṛg andhe vā rūpadarśanam | arājño rājavat pūjā tathā te madhusūdana ||
Śiśupāla sprach: „Wie es nur Spott ist, einem Eunuchen eine Hochzeit auszurichten oder einem Blinden eine Gestalt zu zeigen, so ist auch, o Madhusūdana, diese Verehrung, die man dir—ohne Königreich—wie einem König erweist, nichts als eine Farce.“
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how ethical language can be weaponized: Śiśupāla frames an act of reverence as ‘mockery’ by arguing the recipient is unqualified. It highlights the Mahābhārata’s concern with fitness (adhikāra) for honor and how public honor can become a site of moral and political contest.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya in the royal assembly, Śiśupāla publicly denounces the decision to give Kṛṣṇa the foremost honor (agra-pūjā). This verse is part of his escalating insult, comparing the honor to pointless acts meant only to ridicule.