Shloka 12
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
द्रोणं द्रौर्णिं च साधु त्वं पितापुत्रौ महारथौ । स्तुहि स्तुत्यावुभी भीष्म सततं द्विजसत्तमौ,द्रोणाचार्य और अभश्वत्थामा दोनों पिता-पुत्र महारथी हैं तथा ब्राह्मणोंमें श्रेष्ठ हैं, अतएव स्तुत्य भी हैं। भीष्म! तुम उन दोनोंकी अच्छी तरह स्तुति करो
droṇaṃ drauṇiṃ ca sādhu tvaṃ pitāputrau mahārathau | stuhi stutyāv ubhau bhīṣma satataṃ dvijasattamau ||
Śiśupāla urges Bhīṣma to praise Droṇa and Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman, calling them a father-and-son pair of great chariot-warriors and foremost among brāhmaṇas. The ethical edge is pointed: by stressing their brahmin status and worthiness of honor, he presses Bhīṣma to publicly affirm their prestige, using praise as a political instrument within the royal assembly.
शिशुपाल उवाच