Shloka 34
इच्छतां किल नामाहं जीवाम्येषां महीक्षिताम् । सो<5हं न गणयाम्येतांस्तृणेनापि नराधिपान्,“अहो! शिशुपालके कथनानुसार मैं इन राजाओंकी इच्छापर जी रहा हूँ; परंतु मैं तो इन समस्त भूपालोंको तिनके-बराबर भी नहीं समझता”
icchatāṃ kila nāmāhaṃ jīvāmy eṣāṃ mahīkṣitām | so 'haṃ na gaṇayāmy etāṃs tṛṇenāpi narādhipān |
“ಅಹೋ! ಶಿಶುಪಾಲನ ಮಾತಿನಂತೆ ನಾನು ಈ ರಾಜರ ಇಚ್ಛೆಯಿಂದ ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ; ಆದರೆ ನಾನು ಈ ನರಾಧಿಪರನ್ನು ಹುಲ್ಲಿನ ಕಡ್ಡಿಯಷ್ಟೂ ಲೆಕ್ಕಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates the adharma of arrogance: belittling others—especially peers in a public assembly—undermines dignity, provokes conflict, and violates the ethical restraint expected of rulers and speakers.
In the royal assembly context, a speaker (reported by Vaiśaṃpāyana) voices contempt for the gathered kings, claiming dependence on their will yet dismissing them as worthless—an insult that heightens tension in the Sabha setting.