Shloka 16
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
जयद्रथं च राजानं कृतास्त्रं दृढविक्रमम् । द्रुमं किम्पुरुषाचार्य लोके प्रथितविक्रमम् । अतिक्रम्य महावीर्य कि प्रशंससि केशवम्,इस समुद्रपर्यन्त सारी पृथ्वीपर जो अद्वितीय अनुपम वीर हैं, उन राजाधिराज महाबाहु दुर्योधनको, अस्त्रविद्यामें निपुण और सुदृढ़पराक्रमी राजा जयद्रथको और विश्वविख्यात विक्रमशाली महाबली किम्पुरुषा-चार्य ट्रमको छोड़कर तुम कृष्णकी प्रशंसा क्यों करते हो?
jayadrathaṃ ca rājānaṃ kṛtāstraṃ dṛḍha-vikramam | drumaṃ kimpuruṣācārya loke prathita-vikramam | atikramya mahā-vīrya kiṃ praśaṃsasi keśavam ||
Śiśupāla said: “Passing over King Jayadratha, trained in weapons and firm in prowess, and Druma, the Kimpuruṣa preceptor famed in the world for valor—why do you, O mighty one, praise Keśava?”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a common ethical confusion: measuring worth solely by martial fame and political power. Śiśupāla argues that celebrated warriors deserve praise more than Kṛṣṇa, revealing how envy and worldly metrics can obscure deeper standards of merit (dharma, wisdom, and divine purpose) that the narrative later vindicates.
During the Sabha Parva assembly context, Śiśupāla challenges the honoring of Kṛṣṇa (Keśava). He cites renowned figures like Jayadratha and Druma as examples of famous valor, questioning why Kṛṣṇa is being extolled while such warriors are ‘passed over.’