Shloka 13
Droṇa’s Conditional Boon: The Plan to Capture Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रोणेन युधिष्ठिरग्रहणोपायः)
चेदिराजं च विक्रान्तं राजसेनापतिं बली । अर्घ्ये विवदमानं च जघान पशुवत् तदा,बलवान् श्रीकृष्णने राजाओंकी सेनाके अधिपति पराक्रमी चेदिराज शिशुपालको अग्रपूजनके समय विवाद करनेके कारण पशुकी भाँति मार डाला
cedirājaṃ ca vikrāntaṃ rājasenāpatiṃ balī | arghye vivadamānaṃ ca jaghāna paśuvat tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: At that time the mighty Śrī Kṛṣṇa struck down the valiant king of Cedi—Śiśupāla, commander of the royal host—because he raised a quarrel during the rite of offering arghya (the honor of first worship), killing him like a beast.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of disrupting sacred or lawful honor in a public assembly: arrogance and contentious speech (vivāda) during a rite meant to uphold respect can lead to harsh consequences, underscoring the duty to protect rightful honor and order.
Vaiśampāyana recalls the earlier incident where Śrī Kṛṣṇa killed Śiśupāla, the king of Cedi, because he quarreled during the arghya (first honor) ceremony—an act portrayed as a grave breach of decorum and dharma.