Shloka 19
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
भीष्मकं च महावीर्य दन््तवक्रं च भूमिपम् । भगदत्तं यूपकेतुं जयत्सेनं च मागधम्
bhīṣmakaṃ ca mahāvīrya dantavakraṃ ca bhūmipam | bhagadattaṃ yūpaketuṃ jayatsenaṃ ca māgadham ||
Śiśupāla fuhr in seiner schneidenden Rede fort und nannte berühmte Herrscher: „Bhīṣmaka von großer Macht, Dantavakra, der Erdenkönig, König Bhagadatta, Yūpaketu und Jayatsena von Magadha“—und rief ihren Ruhm und ihre Stärke als Teil seines politischen Arguments über Rang und Ehre der Souveräne in der königlichen Versammlung an.
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how public discourse in a royal assembly often appeals to reputation and the roster of powerful kings; ethically, it highlights the tension between genuine merit and rhetorical use of names and status to sway judgment.
In the Sabha (court) setting, Śiśupāla is speaking and lists prominent rulers—Bhīṣmaka, Dantavakra, Bhagadatta, Yūpaketu, and Jayatsena of Magadha—using their renown to strengthen his ongoing argument and challenge the prevailing honor being accorded in the assembly.