Shloka 5

Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ

Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly

Devanagari script

अवलिप्तस्य मूर्खस्य केशवं स्तोतुमिच्छत: । कथं भीष्म न ते जिह्ला शतधेयं विदीर्यते

Transliteration

avaliptasya mūrkhasya keśavaṃ stotum icchataḥ | kathaṃ bhīṣma na te jihvā śatadheyāṃ vidīryate ||

Translation

„O Bhīṣma! Du brüstest dich mit deiner Weisheit, doch in Wahrheit bist du ein hochmütiger Narr. Wenn dich das Verlangen packt, Keśava zu preisen—wie kommt es, dass deine Zunge nicht in hundert Stücke zerreißt?“

Word by Word

• अवलिप्तस्य: of the arrogant/vainglorious
• अवलिप्तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवलिप्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• मूर्खस्य: of the fool
• मूर्खस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ख
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• केशवम्: Keshava (Krishna)
• केशवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्तोतुम्: to praise
• स्तोतुम्: Prayojana
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral (infinitive)

• इच्छतः: of (one) wishing/desiring
• इच्छतः: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इच्छत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• भीष्म: O Bhishma
• भीष्म: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Second, Genitive, Singular

• जिह्वा: tongue
• जिह्वा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• शतधा: into a hundred parts; a hundredfold
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतधा

• इव: as if/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• विदीर्यते: is torn/splits apart
• Type: Verb
• Root: विदॄ
• Form: Lat (present), Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive (karmani)

Speaker

शिशुपाल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śiśupāla
• Bhīṣma
• Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: arrogance and abusive language are portrayed as moral failings, especially when directed against revered figures. It implicitly contrasts hostile, pride-driven rhetoric with respectful praise rooted in perceived dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the royal assembly during the Rājasūya context, Śiśupāla attacks Bhīṣma for honoring Kṛṣṇa (Keśava). He mocks Bhīṣma’s judgment and suggests that praising Keśava should bring immediate disgrace or punishment, escalating the public confrontation.