Shloka 16
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
जयद्रथं च राजानं कृतास्त्रं दृढविक्रमम् । द्रुमं किम्पुरुषाचार्य लोके प्रथितविक्रमम् । अतिक्रम्य महावीर्य कि प्रशंससि केशवम्
jayadrathaṃ ca rājānaṃ kṛtāstraṃ dṛḍha-vikramam | drumaṃ kimpuruṣācārya loke prathita-vikramam | atikramya mahā-vīrya kiṃ praśaṃsasi keśavam ||
Dengan mengesampingkan Raja Jayadratha yang terlatih dalam senjata dan teguh dalam keberanian, serta Druma sang guru Kimpuruṣa yang termasyhur di dunia karena kepahlawanannya, wahai yang berdaya besar, mengapa engkau memuji Keshava?
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a common ethical confusion: measuring worth solely by martial fame and political power. Śiśupāla argues that celebrated warriors deserve praise more than Kṛṣṇa, revealing how envy and worldly metrics can obscure deeper standards of merit (dharma, wisdom, and divine purpose) that the narrative later vindicates.
During the Sabha Parva assembly context, Śiśupāla challenges the honoring of Kṛṣṇa (Keśava). He cites renowned figures like Jayadratha and Druma as examples of famous valor, questioning why Kṛṣṇa is being extolled while such warriors are ‘passed over.’