Shloka 9
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
(अर्कप्रमाणौ तौ वृक्षौ यद्यनेन निपातितौ । नागश्न पातितो$नेन तत्र को विस्मय: कृत: ।।
arkapramāṇau tau vṛkṣau yady anena nipātitau | nāgaś ca pātito 'nena tatra ko vismayaḥ kṛtaḥ || valmīkamātraḥ saptāhaṃ yady anena dhṛto 'calaḥ | tadā govardhano bhīṣma na tac citraṃ mataṃ mama ||
シシュパーラは言った。「もし彼が、アルカ草ほどの大きさしかない二本のアルジュナ樹を倒したとしても、あるいはただ一匹の蛇を打ち倒したとしても、いったい何の大いなる驚異がある？ そして七日間、山を支えたというのなら——ビーシュマよ——それすら私には不思議ではない。ゴーヴァルダナなど、私の見立てでは蟻塚のような土の山にすぎぬのだから。」
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how envy and hostility can distort moral perception: Śiśupāla dismisses celebrated deeds by reframing them as trivial, showing that ethical judgment in a public forum can be driven by bias rather than truth or reverence.
In the royal assembly context, Śiśupāla attacks Kṛṣṇa’s reputation by mocking famous exploits (toppling trees, killing a serpent, lifting Govardhana) and addresses Bhīṣma directly, attempting to undermine the honor being accorded to Kṛṣṇa.