Shloka 6
Śiśupāla-vākya: Bhīṣma-nindā and the ‘Haṃsa’ Exemplum (शिशुपालवाक्यम् — भीष्मनिन्दा, हंसदृष्टान्तः)
भीष्म उवाच नास्मै देयो हानुनयो नायमर्हति सान्त्वनम् | लोकवृद्धतमे कृष्णे यो$र्हणां नाभिमन्यते
bhīṣma uvāca
nāsmai deyo hānunayo nāyam arhati sāntvanam |
lokavṛddhatame kṛṣṇe yo 'rhaṇāṃ nābhimanyate ||
Bhishma berkata: “Janganlah ditawarkan perdamaian atau rayuan merendah diri kepada orang ini; dia tidak layak dipujuk atau ditenteramkan. Kerana apabila Krishna—yang paling unggul dan paling mulia di seluruh dunia—hadir, sesiapa yang tidak mengakui penghormatan yang wajib bagi-Nya, tidak layak untuk dipujuk.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True ethical judgment includes recognizing rightful excellence and honoring the most worthy. One who refuses to acknowledge due reverence to the supremely venerable (here, Krishna) is portrayed as morally unfit for gentle persuasion; appeasement of obstinate disrespect only enables adharma.
In the royal assembly during the context of honoring Krishna (the setting associated with the debate over foremost worship), Bhishma declares that the person who rejects Krishna’s due honor should not be placated or consoled, emphasizing Krishna’s preeminence and the impropriety of indulging deliberate disrespect.