Śiśupāla-janma-lakṣaṇaṃ (Śiśupāla’s birth marks and the prophecy of his end)
रोषात् प्रचलितं सर्वमिदमाह युधिष्ठिर: । भीष्म मतिमतां मुख्यं वृद्धं कुरूपितामहम् । बृहस्पति बृहत्तेजा: पुरुहृत इवारिहा
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
roṣāt pracalitaṃ sarvam idam āha yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
bhīṣma matimatāṃ mukhyaṃ vṛddhaṃ kurūpitāmaham |
bṛhaspati bṛhat-tejāḥ puruhṛt ivārihā ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: Ketika seluruh sidang itu diguncang oleh amarah, Yudhiṣṭhira pun berbicara. Ia menyapa Bhīṣma—yang terdepan di antara para bijak, sesepuh dan grandsire wangsa Kuru—sebagaimana Indra, sang Puruhūta yang bersinar agung dan penumpas musuh, menyapa Bṛhaspati.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
In a moment when anger destabilizes the court, the narrative highlights a dharmic reflex: turning to the most seasoned and wise elder for guidance. Authority is framed not merely as power, but as counsel grounded in age, insight, and responsibility.
The assembly of kings becomes turbulent with wrath. Yudhiṣṭhira then addresses Bhīṣma, presenting the moment as a formal seeking of counsel—likened to Indra consulting his divine teacher Bṛhaspati—signaling that a consequential question or decision is about to follow.