Shloka 10
वैशम्पायन उवाच पूजयित्वा च पूजाहतनि ब्रद्मक्षत्रविशेषवित् । सहदेवो नृणां देव: समापद्यत कर्म तत्,स एव हि मया वध्यो भविष्यति न संशय: । “राजाओ! केशी दैत्यका वध करनेवाले अनन्त-पराक्रमी भगवान् श्रीकृष्णकी मेरे द्वारा जो पूजा की गयी है, उसे आपलोगोंमेंसे जो सहन न कर सकें, उन सब बलवानोंके मस्तकपर मैंने यह पैर रख दिया। मैंने खूब सोच-समझकर यह बात कही है। जो इसका उत्तर देना चाहे, वह सामने आ जाय। मेरे द्वारा वह वधके योग्य होगा; इसमें संशय नहीं है वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! वहाँ आये हुए ब्राह्मणों और क्षत्रियोंमें विशिष्ट व्यक्तियोंको पहचानने-वाले नरदेव सहदेवने क्रमशः पूज्य व्यक्तियोंकी पूजा करके वह अर्घ्यनिवेदनका कार्य पूरा कर दिया
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
pūjayitvā ca pūjārhān brāhma-kṣatra-viśeṣa-vit |
sahadevo nṛṇāṁ devaḥ samāpadyata karma tat ||
sa eva hi mayā vadhyo bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having duly honoured those who were worthy of honour, Sahadeva—like a god among men and skilled in discerning the foremost among brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas—brought that ceremonial act to completion. And whoever cannot bear that honour shown (to the chosen recipient) is, indeed, fit to be slain by me—of this there is no doubt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public honour in a royal-sacrificial setting is not merely personal praise; it signals rightful precedence. The verse highlights discernment (knowing who is truly pūjārha) and shows how wounded pride can turn ritual order into ethical and political conflict.
During the ceremonial proceedings (connected with the great royal rite), Sahadeva completes the formal honouring of those deemed worthy. The atmosphere becomes charged because some cannot tolerate the chosen honour, and a challenge is voiced that such resentment may lead to violent confrontation.