Shloka 11
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
अभश्रृत्थाम्नि स्थिते वीरे सर्वशास्त्रविशारदे | कथं कृष्णस्त्वया राजन्नर्चित: कुरुनन्दन,राजन! शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म पुरुषशिरोमणि तथा स्वच्छन्दमृत्यु हैं। इनके रहते तुमने कृष्णकी अर्चना कैसे की? कुरुनन्दन युधिष्ठिर! सम्पूर्ण शास्त्रोंके निपुण विद्वान् वीर अश्व॒ृत्थामाके रहते हुए तुमने कृष्णकी पूजा कैसे कर डाली?
abhāśrutthāmni sthite vīre sarvaśāstraviśārade | kathaṃ kṛṣṇas tvayā rājann arcitaḥ kurunandana ||
シシュパーラは言った。「王よ、クル族の喜びよ。あらゆるシャーストラに通じた勇士アシュヴァッターマーが在座するのに、どうして汝はクリシュナを礼拝して栄誉を与えたのか。」
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public honor in a royal assembly becomes a test of values: whether precedence is granted by worldly criteria (age, martial prowess, learning) or by a deeper recognition of spiritual and ethical greatness. Śiśupāla frames the issue as a breach of propriety to undermine Kṛṣṇa’s honor.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s grand rite and court assembly, Kṛṣṇa is given special worship/foremost honor. Śiśupāla objects, arguing that respected warriors and learned figures (here, Aśvatthāmā) are present, so honoring Kṛṣṇa first is, in his view, unjustified.