Shloka 12
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
दुर्योधने च राजेन्द्रे स्थिते पुरुषसत्तमे । कृपे च भारताचार्ये कथं कृष्णस्त्वयार्चित:,पुरुषप्रवर राजाधिराज दुर्योधन और भरतवंशके आचार्य महात्मा कृपके रहते हुए तुमने कृष्णकी पूजाका औचित्य कैसे स्वीकार किया? तुमने किम्पुरुषोंके आचार्य ट्रुमका उल्लंघन करके कृष्णकी अग्रपूजा क्यों की? पाण्डुके समान दुर्धर्ष वीर तथा राजोचित शुभ- लक्षणोंसे सम्पन्न भीष्मक, राजा रुक्मी और उसी प्रकार श्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर एकलव्य तथा मद्रराज शल्यके रहते हुए तुम्हारे द्वारा कृष्णकी पूजा किस दृष्टिसे की गयी?
duryodhane ca rājendre sthite puruṣasattame | kṛpe ca bhāratācārye kathaṃ kṛṣṇas tvayārcitaḥ ||
Śiśupāla said: “When King Duryodhana—the foremost of men—was present, and when Kṛpa, the preceptor of the Bhāratas, was also there, how could you deem it proper to honor Kṛṣṇa? In the presence of such royal and venerable figures, on what grounds did you accept Kṛṣṇa as worthy of special worship?”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical tension between worldly hierarchy (rank, seniority, and courtly protocol) and the recognition of exceptional worth. It sets up a debate on who truly deserves highest honor—those with political power and traditional status, or one whose excellence is argued to surpass conventional measures.
In the royal assembly context, Śiśupāla challenges the decision to honor Kṛṣṇa, arguing that eminent figures like Duryodhana and the respected teacher Kṛpa are present. His question is a rhetorical protest against granting Kṛṣṇa special precedence, intensifying the public dispute over rightful honor.