Shloka 5
Śiśupāla-vākya: Bhīṣma-nindā and the ‘Haṃsa’ Exemplum (शिशुपालवाक्यम् — भीष्मनिन्दा, हंसदृष्टान्तः)
वेद तत्त्वेन कृष्णं हि भीष्मश्वेदिपते भशम् नहोन त्वं तथा वेत्थ यथैनं वेद कौरव:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: veda tattvena kṛṣṇaṃ hi bhīṣmaḥ śvetipate bhṛśam; na hi no tvaṃ tathā vettha yathainaṃ veda kauravaḥ.
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Oh señor de los Śvetis (rey de Cedi), Bhīṣma conoce de verdad a Kṛṣṇa en su naturaleza real, y lo conoce profundamente. Tú no lo conoces del mismo modo que lo conoce el Kaurava (Bhīṣma).»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True understanding of a great person—especially of the divine—requires tattva-jñāna (knowledge of real nature), and such discernment is often possessed by wise elders like Bhīṣma; mere status or rivalry does not grant that insight.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the Cedi king (Śiśupāla), asserting that Bhīṣma knows Kṛṣṇa’s true nature profoundly, and that Śiśupāla lacks the same level of understanding—setting a contrast between reverent insight and antagonistic misjudgment.