Shloka 27
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
अयुक्तामात्मन: पूजां त्वं पुनर्बहु मन््यसे । हविष: प्राप्य निष्यन्दं प्राशिता श्वेव निर्जने
ayuktām ātmanaḥ pūjāṁ tvaṁ punar bahu manyase | haviṣaḥ prāpya niṣyandaṁ prāśitā śveva nirjane ||
Śiśupāla berkata: “Engkau memandang dirimu terlalu tinggi kerana menerima pemujaan yang tidak layak bagimu. Seperti seekor anjing di tempat sunyi yang menjilat titisan kecil ghee korban daripada havis lalu menyangka dirinya amat diberkati, demikianlah engkau: setelah menerima kehormatan yang tidak patut, engkau mengembang dengan keangkuhan.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns inflated pride based on unearned honor: accepting (or boasting over) worship that is not truly merited is ethically hollow and leads to arrogance.
During the royal assembly context, Śiśupāla attacks the recipient of special honor, mocking him with a harsh simile—like a dog licking a small spill of sacrificial ghee and thinking itself blessed—thereby escalating the public dispute.