Shloka 6
Śiśupāla-vadha in the Rājasūya-sabhā (शिशुपालवधः — राजसूयसभायाम्)
यद्ययं जगत: कर्ता यथैनं मूर्ख मन्यसे । कमस्मान्न ब्राह्मणं सम्यगात्मानमवगच्छति
yady ayaṁ jagataḥ kartā yathainaṁ mūḍha manyase | kim asmān na brāhmaṇaṁ samyag ātmānam avagacchati mūḍha bhīṣma ||
Shishupala said: “If, as you foolishly believe, this man is truly the maker of the world, then why does he not properly recognize himself as a brahmin? O foolish Bhishma—if Krishna is indeed the creator and sustainer of the entire universe, why does he not regard himself, in full awareness, as a brahmin?”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how theological claims (Krishna as cosmic creator) can be challenged through social categories (varna). Shishupala weaponizes the brahmin/kshatriya distinction to mock Bhishma’s reverence, showing the ethical danger of pride and insult: spiritual truth is not settled by status-arguments, and contemptuous speech becomes a cause of conflict.
During the Rajasuya-related assembly scene in the Sabha Parva, Bhishma and others honor Krishna. Shishupala publicly attacks this honor, calling Bhishma deluded and arguing that if Krishna were truly the world’s creator, he would acknowledge himself as a brahmin—thus attempting to discredit Krishna’s supremacy and provoke the court.