Shloka 9
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
(अर्कप्रमाणौ तौ वृक्षौ यद्यनेन निपातितौ । नागश्न पातितो$नेन तत्र को विस्मय: कृत: ।।
arkapramāṇau tau vṛkṣau yady anena nipātitau | nāgaś ca pātito 'nena tatra ko vismayaḥ kṛtaḥ || valmīkamātraḥ saptāhaṃ yady anena dhṛto 'calaḥ | tadā govardhano bhīṣma na tac citraṃ mataṃ mama ||
Śiśupāla sprach: „Wenn er jene zwei Arjuna‑Bäume fällte, die kaum größer waren als Arka‑Sträucher, oder wenn er nur eine Schlange niederstreckte—welches große Wunder hat er da vollbracht? Und wenn er sieben Tage lang einen Berg emporhielt—Bhīṣma—so dünkt mich selbst das nicht erstaunlich; denn Govardhana ist in meinen Augen nichts als ein Haufen, gleich einem Ameisenhügel.“
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how envy and hostility can distort moral perception: Śiśupāla dismisses celebrated deeds by reframing them as trivial, showing that ethical judgment in a public forum can be driven by bias rather than truth or reverence.
In the royal assembly context, Śiśupāla attacks Kṛṣṇa’s reputation by mocking famous exploits (toppling trees, killing a serpent, lifting Govardhana) and addresses Bhīṣma directly, attempting to undermine the honor being accorded to Kṛṣṇa.