Shloka 10
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
भीष्मे शान्तनवे राजन् स्थिते पुरुषसत्तमे | स्वच्छन्दमृत्युके राजन् कथं कृष्णोड<र्चितस्त्वया,राजन! शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म पुरुषशिरोमणि तथा स्वच्छन्दमृत्यु हैं। इनके रहते तुमने कृष्णकी अर्चना कैसे की? कुरुनन्दन युधिष्ठिर! सम्पूर्ण शास्त्रोंके निपुण विद्वान् वीर अश्व॒ृत्थामाके रहते हुए तुमने कृष्णकी पूजा कैसे कर डाली?
bhīṣme śāntanave rājan sthite puruṣasattame | svacchandamṛtyuke rājan kathaṃ kṛṣṇo 'rcitas tvayā ||
Śiśupāla said: “O King, while Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu—foremost among men—still stands here, and while that great one who can choose the time of his own death is present, how is it that you have offered worship to Kṛṣṇa?”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a courtly ethical tension between honoring spiritual greatness and honoring social seniority: Śiśupāla argues that venerable elders like Bhīṣma, famed for self-mastery and chosen death, should receive precedence over Kṛṣṇa—revealing how debates on merit, rank, and devotion can clash in public ritual.
During the Rājasūya-related assembly proceedings, Yudhiṣṭhira has honored Kṛṣṇa. Śiśupāla objects, pointing to Bhīṣma’s presence and exceptional stature (including the boon of choosing his death), and challenges the propriety of worshipping Kṛṣṇa over such an elder.