Shloka 3
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
बाला यूयं न जानीध्वं धर्म: सूक्ष्मो हि पाण्डवा: । अयं च स्मृत्यतिक्रान्तो ह्वापगेयो5ल्पदर्शन:
bālā yūyaṁ na jānīdhvaṁ dharmaḥ sūkṣmo hi pāṇḍavāḥ | ayaṁ ca smṛtyatikrānto hy āpageyo 'lpadarśanaḥ ||
Śiśupāla berkata: “Kamu semua masih seperti kanak-kanak; kamu tidak mengerti. Dharma itu memang halus, wahai Pāṇḍava. Dan orang ini—kerana usia, ingatannya telah merosot; daya pertimbangannya pun menjadi kabur.” (Dengan penghinaan ini dia menyiratkan bahawa persetujuan para tua-tua untuk memuliakan Kṛṣṇa bukanlah berasaskan pertimbangan yang jernih.)
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that dharma is subtle and easily misunderstood; it also shows how claims about “dharma” can be weaponized rhetorically to discredit opponents and elders in a political assembly.
In the royal assembly during Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya context, Śiśupāla attacks the Pāṇḍavas’ judgment and derides the elders’ counsel, implying that honoring Kṛṣṇa is a mistake born of immaturity and senility.