Shloka 15
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
ज्ञानवृद्धं च वृद्धं च भूयांसं केशवं मम । अजानत इवाख्यासि संस्तुवन् कौरवाधम
jñānavṛddhaṃ ca vṛddhaṃ ca bhūyāṃsaṃ keśavaṃ mama | ajānata ivākhyāsi saṃstuvan kauravādhama kauravādhama ||
シシュパーラは言った。「そなたは我が前でケーシャヴァ（Keśava）を讃え、智慧においても年齢においても老成していると言う。まるで、われが彼について何も知らぬかのように！――クル族のうち最も卑しき者よ。」
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.