Shloka 39
गाथामप्यत्र गायन्ति ये पुराणविदो जना: । भीष्म यां तां च ते सम्यक् कथयिष्यामि भारत,तुम भी उस हंसके ही समान हो, अतः ये सब नरेश अत्यन्त कुपित होकर आज तुम्हें उसी तरह मार डालेंगे, जैसे उन पक्षियोंने हंसकी हत्या कर डाली थी। भीष्म! इस विषयमें पुराणवेत्ता विद्वान् एक गाथा गाया करते हैं। भरतकुलभूषण! मैं उसे भी तुमको भलीभाँति सुनाये देता हूँ
gāthām apy atra gāyanti ye purāṇavido janāḥ | bhīṣma yāṃ tāṃ ca te samyak kathayiṣyāmi bhārata |
Śiśupāla said: “Here, too, those people who know the Purāṇas sing a traditional verse. O Bhīṣma—O scion of Bharata—I shall recount to you accurately that very gāthā.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse appeals to received tradition: ethical or political criticism is strengthened by citing authoritative lore (Purāṇic gāthās). It also highlights how public speech in an assembly seeks legitimacy through precedent and remembered narratives.
In the royal assembly context, Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma and announces that he will recite a well-known traditional gāthā sung by Purāṇa-knowers, using it to support his ongoing argument and reproach.