Shloka 25
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
यदस्तव्यमिमं शश्वन्मोहात् संस्तौषि भक्तित: | केशवं तच्च ते भीष्म न कश्चिदनुमन्यते
yad astavyam imaṁ śaśvan mohāt saṁstauṣi bhaktitaḥ | keśavaṁ tac ca te bhīṣma na kaścid anumanyate ||
Śiśupāla berkata: “Wahai Bhīṣma! Keshava yang engkau puji berulang-ulang—karena delusi dan dengan semangat bhakti—sesungguhnya tidak layak dipuji. Tak seorang pun menyetujui pujianmu itu.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public praise can become a moral and social battleground: Shishupala frames Bhishma’s devotion as “delusion” and claims that honoring Keshava is improper. Ethically, it foregrounds the tension between inner conviction (bhakti) and hostile public judgment, and how contempt can be expressed by denying another’s worthiness of honor.
In the royal assembly context of the Sabha Parva, Shishupala confronts Bhishma and attacks him for repeatedly praising Keshava (Krishna). The line is part of Shishupala’s escalating denunciation, challenging Bhishma’s authority and attempting to delegitimize Krishna’s honor in the court.