Shloka 2
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
नायं युक्त: समाचार: पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु । यत् कामात् पुण्डरीकाक्षं पाण्डवार्चितवानसि
nāyaṁ yuktaḥ samācāraḥ pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu | yat kāmāt puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ pāṇḍavārcitavān asi |
Ini bukanlah adat yang wajar terhadap para Pāṇḍava yang berhati luhur. Wahai putera Pāṇḍu! Engkau telah memuliakan Kṛṣṇa yang bermata teratai kerana kehendak diri, bukan kerana pertimbangan yang benar.
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how appeals to 'proper conduct' (samācāra) can be weaponized in ethical debate: Śiśupāla frames the honoring of Kṛṣṇa as desire-driven and therefore 'unjustified,' contrasting personal motive (kāma) with rightful dharmic judgment.
In the royal assembly context (connected with the Rājasūya proceedings), Śiśupāla publicly criticizes the decision to honor Kṛṣṇa, claiming it is improper toward the Pāṇḍavas and accusing the Pāṇḍava speaker of acting from self-interest.