Shloka 6
Śiśupāla-vākya: Bhīṣma-nindā and the ‘Haṃsa’ Exemplum (शिशुपालवाक्यम् — भीष्मनिन्दा, हंसदृष्टान्तः)
भीष्म उवाच नास्मै देयो हानुनयो नायमर्हति सान्त्वनम् | लोकवृद्धतमे कृष्णे यो$र्हणां नाभिमन्यते,भीष्मजीने कहा--धर्मराज! भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण ही सम्पूर्ण जगत्में सबसे बढ़कर हैं । वे ही परम पूजनीय हैं। जो उनकी अग्रपूजा स्वीकार नहीं करता है, उसकी अनुनय-विनय नहीं करनी चाहिये। वह सान्त्वना देने या समझाने-बुझानेके योग्य भी नहीं है
bhīṣma uvāca
nāsmai deyo hānunayo nāyam arhati sāntvanam |
lokavṛddhatame kṛṣṇe yo 'rhaṇāṃ nābhimanyate ||
Bhishma said: “No conciliation or submissive entreaty should be offered to this man; he does not deserve to be soothed or persuaded. For when Krishna—the most eminent and venerable in all the world—is present, whoever does not acknowledge the honor due to him is unfit to be placated.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True ethical judgment includes recognizing rightful excellence and honoring the most worthy. One who refuses to acknowledge due reverence to the supremely venerable (here, Krishna) is portrayed as morally unfit for gentle persuasion; appeasement of obstinate disrespect only enables adharma.
In the royal assembly during the context of honoring Krishna (the setting associated with the debate over foremost worship), Bhishma declares that the person who rejects Krishna’s due honor should not be placated or consoled, emphasizing Krishna’s preeminence and the impropriety of indulging deliberate disrespect.