Shloka 18
Śiśupāla-vākya: Bhīṣma-nindā and the ‘Haṃsa’ Exemplum (शिशुपालवाक्यम् — भीष्मनिन्दा, हंसदृष्टान्तः)
वैश्यानां धान्यधनवाउुछूद्राणामेव जन्मत: । पूज्यतायां च गोविन्दे हेतू द्वावपि संस्थितौ,वैश्योंमें वही सर्वमान्य है, जो धन-धान्यमें बढ़कर हो, केवल शूद्रोंमें ही जन्मकालको ध्यानमें रखकर जो अवस्थामें बड़ा हो, उसको पूजनीय माना जाता है । श्रीकृष्णके परम पूजनीय होनेमें दोनों ही कारण विद्यमान हैं
vaiśyānāṃ dhānya-dhana-vau śūdrāṇām eva janmataḥ | pūjyatāyāṃ ca govinde hetū dvāv api saṃsthitau ||
Among the Vaiśyas, the one who surpasses others in grain and wealth is regarded as most worthy of honor. Among the Śūdras, honor is accorded chiefly on the basis of birth—especially seniority by age. In Govinda’s supreme venerability, both grounds are present.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma explains that social honor is often assigned by different criteria—wealth and prosperity among Vaiśyas, and birth-based seniority among Śūdras—then asserts that Govinda (Kṛṣṇa) possesses both kinds of grounds for reverence, reinforcing his exceptional worthiness of honor.
In the Sabha Parva’s courtly discourse, Bhīṣma speaks as an elder authority, articulating how people conventionally determine who is ‘most worthy’ in different social groups, and uses that framework to justify why Kṛṣṇa (Govinda) should be regarded as supremely venerable.