Shloka 25
यदस्तव्यमिमं शश्वन्मोहात् संस्तौषि भक्तित: | केशवं तच्च ते भीष्म न कश्चिदनुमन्यते,भीष्म! जो स्तुतिके सर्वथा अयोग्य है, उसी केशवकी तुम मोहवश सदा भक्तिभावसे जो स्तुति करते रहते हो, उसका कोई अनुमोदन नहीं करता
yad astavyam imaṁ śaśvan mohāt saṁstauṣi bhaktitaḥ | keśavaṁ tac ca te bhīṣma na kaścid anumanyate ||
Shishupala said: “Bhishma, the one whom you keep praising again and again—out of delusion and with a devotee’s fervor—namely Keshava, is in truth unworthy of praise. No one approves of that praise of yours.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public praise can become a moral and social battleground: Shishupala frames Bhishma’s devotion as “delusion” and claims that honoring Keshava is improper. Ethically, it foregrounds the tension between inner conviction (bhakti) and hostile public judgment, and how contempt can be expressed by denying another’s worthiness of honor.
In the royal assembly context of the Sabha Parva, Shishupala confronts Bhishma and attacks him for repeatedly praising Keshava (Krishna). The line is part of Shishupala’s escalating denunciation, challenging Bhishma’s authority and attempting to delegitimize Krishna’s honor in the court.