Shloka 29
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
क्लीबे दारक्रिया यादृगन्धे वा रूपदर्शनम् । अराज्ञो राजवत् पूजा तथा ते मधुसूदन
klībe dārakriyā yādṛg andhe vā rūpadarśanam | arājño rājavat pūjā tathā te madhusūdana ||
សិសុបាលបាននិយាយថា៖ «ដូចជាការរៀបអាពាហ៍ពិពាហ៍ឲ្យនបុংসក ឬបង្ហាញរូបរាងឲ្យមនុស្សខ្វាក់—នោះគ្រាន់តែជាការចំអកប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ ដូច្នេះដែរ ការបូជាដល់ឯង—អ្នកគ្មានរាជ្យ—ឲ្យដូចជាស្តេចទាំងឡាយ ឱ មធុសូទន—គ្រាន់តែជាវិដំបនាម៉ាត់»។
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how ethical language can be weaponized: Śiśupāla frames an act of reverence as ‘mockery’ by arguing the recipient is unqualified. It highlights the Mahābhārata’s concern with fitness (adhikāra) for honor and how public honor can become a site of moral and political contest.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya in the royal assembly, Śiśupāla publicly denounces the decision to give Kṛṣṇa the foremost honor (agra-pūjā). This verse is part of his escalating insult, comparing the honor to pointless acts meant only to ridicule.