Shloka 16

Śiśupāla-vadha in the Rājasūya-sabhā (शिशुपालवधः — राजसूयसभायाम्)

Devanagari script

शिशुपालस्तु संक्रुद्धे भीमसेने जनाधिप । नाकम्पत तदा वीर: पौरुषे स्वे व्यवस्थित:,राजन! भीमसेनके कुपित होनेपर भी वीर शिशुपाल भयभीत नहीं हुआ। उसे अपने पुरुषार्थका पूरा भरोसा था

Transliteration

Śiśupālas tu saṅkruddhe Bhīmasene janādhipa | nākampata tadā vīraḥ pauruṣe sve vyavasthitaḥ ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Oh rey, cuando Bhīmasena se encendió en ira, el guerrero Śiśupāla no tembló. Firme en su propia virilidad y valor, permaneció inconmovible, mostrando esa orgullosa confianza que a menudo aviva la escalada en las asambleas reales.

Word by Word

शिशुपालःShishupala

तुbut/indeed

संक्रुद्धेwhen (he was) enraged

भीमसेनेin/with regard to Bhimasena (when Bhimasena was enraged)

जनाधिपO lord of people (O king)

नnot

अकम्पतtrembled/was shaken

तदाthen/at that time

वीरःthe hero/brave one

पौरुषेin (his) manliness/valor

स्वेin his own

व्यवस्थितःsteadfast/firmly resolved

राजन्O king

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Śiśupāla

Janādhipa (the king addressed, i.e., Janamejaya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness and self-confidence in the face of intimidation, while also hinting at a moral risk: pride in one’s prowess can harden hostility and intensify conflict in a public, political setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the royal assembly narrative, Bhīmasena becomes angry, yet Śiśupāla remains unafraid and unmoved, relying on his own valor and resolve rather than yielding to Bhīma’s fury.