Shloka 1
Śiśupāla-vadha in the Rājasūya-sabhā (शिशुपालवधः — राजसूयसभायाम्)
अप्-#-रा+ द्विचत्वारिशोड ध्याय: शिशुपालकी बातोंपर भीमसेनका क्रोध और भीष्मजीका उन्हें शान्त करना शिशुपाल उवाच स मे बहुमतो राजा जरासंधो महाबल: । योडनेन युद्ध नेयेष दासो5यमिति संयुगे
Śiśupāla uvāca: sa me bahumato rājā Jarāsandho mahābalaḥ | yo ’nena yuddhaṃ na iyeṣa dāso ’yam iti saṃyuge ||
シシュパーラは言った。「我にとって、大力の王ジャラーサンダはまことに尊ぶべき御方であった。戦場において王はこの男と戦うことを望まず、『こやつはただの下僕にすぎぬ』と思っていたのだ。」
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how contemptuous labeling (“servant”) can distort judgment and inflame conflict; ethical speech and proper recognition of a person’s true standing are central to maintaining dharmic conduct among kings.
Shishupala praises Jarasandha as a respected, powerful king and claims that Jarasandha refused to fight Krishna because he regarded him as merely a servant—setting up Shishupala’s provocative rhetoric that will anger others in the assembly.