Shloka 1

Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ

Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly

Devanagari script

ऑपन- माल बछ। अकाल एकचत्वारिशो< ध्याय: शिशुपालद्दारा भीष्मकी निन्दा शिशुपाल उवाच विभीषिकाभिर्बलद्वीभिभभीषयन्‌ सर्वपार्थिवान्‌ । न व्यपत्रपसे कस्माद्‌ वृद्ध: सन्‌ कुलपांसन

Transliteration

śiśupāla uvāca | vibhīṣikābhir baladṛgbhir bhīṣayan sarvapārthivān | na vyapatrapase kasmād vṛddhaḥ san kulapāṃsana ||

Translation

Śiśupāla sprach: „Mit schrecklichen Drohungen und gewaltsamer Einschüchterung versuchst du, all diese Könige in Furcht zu beugen. Warum empfindest du keine Scham über ein solches Verhalten, obwohl du ein Ältester bist—o Bhīṣma, Schande deines Geschlechts?“

Word by Word

• शिशुपालः: Shishupala
• शिशुपालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विभीषिकाभिः: by terrors/threats
• विभीषिकाभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषिका
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• बलद्वीभिः: by the strong-armed (men)
• बलद्वीभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलद्वी
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भीषयन्: frightening
• Type: Verb
• Root: भीष्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वपार्थिवान्: all the kings
• सर्वपार्थिवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वपार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• व्यपत्रपसे: are you ashamed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + पत्रप्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• कस्मात्: why/from what reason
• कस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• वृद्धः: old/elderly
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सन्: being
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुलपांसन: O disgrace of the family
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलपांसन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

शिशुपाल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Shishupala
• Bhishma
• kings (sarva-pārthivāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical accusation: an elder and respected figure should act with dignity and restraint; using fear and coercion in a royal assembly is portrayed as shameful and dishonoring to one’s lineage.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the royal assembly context, Shishupala publicly rebukes Bhishma, alleging that Bhishma is intimidating the gathered kings with threats and questioning why, despite his age and status, he feels no shame.