Shloka 29
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
क्लीबे दारक्रिया यादृगन्धे वा रूपदर्शनम् । अराज्ञो राजवत् पूजा तथा ते मधुसूदन
klībe dārakriyā yādṛg andhe vā rūpadarśanam | arājño rājavat pūjā tathā te madhusūdana ||
Śiśupāla berkata: “Seperti mengatur perkahwinan bagi seorang sida-sida, atau memperlihatkan rupa kepada orang buta—itu hanyalah ejekan; demikian juga, wahai Madhusūdana, pemujaan yang diberikan kepadamu—yang tidak memiliki kerajaan—seolah-olah engkau seorang raja, tidak lain hanyalah sandiwara.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how ethical language can be weaponized: Śiśupāla frames an act of reverence as ‘mockery’ by arguing the recipient is unqualified. It highlights the Mahābhārata’s concern with fitness (adhikāra) for honor and how public honor can become a site of moral and political contest.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya in the royal assembly, Śiśupāla publicly denounces the decision to give Kṛṣṇa the foremost honor (agra-pūjā). This verse is part of his escalating insult, comparing the honor to pointless acts meant only to ridicule.