Shloka 23
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
यो<यं वृष्णिकुले जातो राजानं हतवान् पुरा | जरासंध॑ महात्मानमन्यायेन दुरात्मवान्,वृष्णिकुलमें पैदा हुए इस दुरात्माने तो कुछ ही दिन पहले महात्मा राजा जरासंधका अन्यायपूर्वक वध किया है
yo ’yaṁ vṛṣṇikule jāto rājānaṁ hatavān purā | jarāsandhaṁ mahātmānam anyāyena durātmavān ||
Śiśupāla berkata: “Orang ini, yang lahir dalam keturunan Vṛṣṇi, telah pun membunuh seorang raja—Jarāsandha, pemerintah yang berhati besar—dan dia melakukannya dengan cara yang tidak adil. Perbuatan itu menyingkap tabiat jahat, bukan kebenaran dharma.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral accusation: killing a ruler by improper or unfair means is portrayed as adharma. It highlights how ethical legitimacy in political action is contested through the language of dharma and justice.
In the royal assembly context, Śiśupāla attacks Kṛṣṇa’s reputation by alleging that he previously caused the death of Jarāsandha unjustly, using this charge to argue against honoring Kṛṣṇa.