Shloka 18
Śiśupāla-vadha in the Rājasūya-sabhā (शिशुपालवधः — राजसूयसभायाम्)
प्रहसंश्षाब्रवीद् वाक््यं चेदिराज: प्रतापवान् । भीमसेनमभिक्रुद्धं दृष्टयवा भीमपराक्रमम्,उस समय भयानक पराक्रमी भीमसेनको कुपित देख प्रतापी चेदिराज हँसते हुए बोला --
prahasaṁś cābravīd vākyaṁ cedirājaḥ pratāpavān | bhīmasenam abhikruddhaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhīmaparākramam ||
Seeing Bhīmasena—terrible in might—rise in anger, the valiant king of Cedi spoke with a laugh, addressing him in words meant to meet wrath with derision and to provoke further conflict within the royal assembly.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ridicule and provocation in a public forum can inflame anger and destabilize dharmic order; restraint and measured speech are implied virtues, especially in a royal assembly where words can trigger violence.
In the assembly setting, Bhīma is seen to be enraged. The powerful king of Cedi (Śiśupāla), instead of calming the situation, laughs and begins speaking—signaling a deliberate taunt and an escalation of tension.