Shloka 15
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
ज्ञानवृद्धं च वृद्धं च भूयांसं केशवं मम । अजानत इवाख्यासि संस्तुवन् कौरवाधम,कौरवाधम! तुम मेरे सामने इस कृष्णकी स्तुति करते हुए इसे ज्ञानवृद्ध और वयोवृद्ध बता रहे हो, मानो मैं इसके विषयमें कुछ जानता ही न होऊँ
jñānavṛddhaṃ ca vṛddhaṃ ca bhūyāṃsaṃ keśavaṃ mama | ajānata ivākhyāsi saṃstuvan kauravādhama kauravādhama ||
Śiśupāla berkata: “Wahai aib bagi wangsa Kuru! Di hadapanku engkau memuji Keśava, menyebutnya matang dalam kebijaksanaan dan lanjut dalam usia—seolah-olah aku sama sekali tidak mengenalnya.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of arrogant speech: Shishupala’s contempt and abusive language in a royal assembly show how pride and envy distort judgment, turning even public discourse into adharma.
In the Sabha (royal court) setting, Shishupala reacts angrily to someone praising Krishna (Keshava). He mocks the praise—‘as if I didn’t know him’—and insults the addressee as ‘worst of the Kauravas,’ escalating the confrontation.