Shloka 22
Śiśupāla-vākya: Bhīṣma-nindā and the ‘Haṃsa’ Exemplum (शिशुपालवाक्यम् — भीष्मनिन्दा, हंसदृष्टान्तः)
ऋतच्विग् गुरुस्तथा5<चार्य: स्नातको नृपति:ः प्रिय: । सर्वमेतद्धृषीकेशस्तस्मादशभ्यर्चितो<च्युत:,श्रीकृष्ण हमारे ऋत्विक्, गुरु, आचार्य, स्नातक, राजा और प्रिय मित्र सब कुछ हैं। इसीलिये हमने इनकी अग्रपूजा की है
ṛtvig guruḥ tathā ācāryaḥ snātako nṛpatiḥ priyaḥ | sarvam etad dhṛṣīkeśas tasmād asmat-pūjito 'cyutaḥ ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Kṛṣṇa—Hṛṣīkeśa—ist für uns alles: der ṛtvij (Opferpriester), der verehrungswürdige Guru, der ācārya (Lehrmeister), der snātaka (der in Ritus und Wissen Vollendete), der König und der geliebte Freund. Darum, o Acyuta, haben wir ihn mit der vorrangigen Verehrung (agrapūjā) geehrt.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames Kṛṣṇa as embodying multiple sources of authority and care—ritual, learning, governance, and friendship—so honoring him is ethically appropriate. The verse links rightful honor (pūjā) to recognized excellence and beneficence, not merely to rank or power.
In the royal assembly context, Bhīṣma justifies the decision to offer Kṛṣṇa the foremost honor (agrāpūjā). He explains that Kṛṣṇa is regarded as their priest, teacher, preceptor, learned elder, kingly protector, and dear companion, hence deserving precedence.