Shloka 26
Balarāma Humbles the Kurus and Rescues Sāmba
चामरव्यजने शङ्खमातपत्रं च पाण्डुरम् । किरीटमासनं शय्यां भुञ्जतेऽस्मदुपेक्षया ॥ २६ ॥
cāmara-vyajane śaṅkham ātapatraṁ ca pāṇḍuram kirīṭam āsanaṁ śayyāṁ bhuñjate ’smad-upekṣayā
നാം അവഗണിച്ചതിനാലേ അവർ ചാമരവീശുകളും വ്യജനങ്ങളും, ശംഖും, വെളുത്ത കുടയും, കിരീടവും, ആസനവും, രാജശയ്യയും അനുഭവിക്കുന്നു.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes that the Kurus were thinking, “They [the Yadus] should not have used such royal paraphernalia in our presence, but we did not check them due to our family relationships.” By using the words asmad-upekṣayā, the Kurus mean to say, “They were able to use these royal insignia because we did not take the matter seriously.” As explained by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the Kurus thought, “Showing concern about their use of these items would have been a sign of respect, but in fact we do not have such respect for them.… Since they are of inferior families, they are not to be respected, and so we pay no regard to them.”
FAQs
This verse shows that when royal honors and insignia are enjoyed with contempt for others, it becomes a cause of offense and conflict rather than true glory.
They are classic emblems of sovereignty; the verse highlights that these marks of rulership are being appropriated while the rightful parties are being neglected and insulted.
Status and privilege should be paired with respect and responsibility; enjoying advantages while dismissing others breeds resentment and invites downfall.