Shloka 8
Śiśupāla-vākya: Bhīṣma-nindā and the ‘Haṃsa’ Exemplum (शिशुपालवाक्यम् — भीष्मनिन्दा, हंसदृष्टान्तः)
अस्यां हि समितौ राज्ञामेकमप्यजितं युधि । न पश्यामि महीपाल सात्वतीपुत्रतेजसा,राजाओंके इस समुदायमें एक भी भूपाल ऐसा नहीं दिखायी देता, जो युद्धमें देवकीनन्दन श्रीकृष्णके तेजसे परास्त न हो चुका हो
asyāṃ hi samitau rājñām ekam apy ajitaṃ yudhi | na paśyāmi mahīpāla sātvati-putra-tejasā ||
Bhishma berkata: “Dalam perhimpunan raja-raja ini, wahai tuan bumi, aku tidak melihat walau seorang pun pemerintah yang belum pernah ditundukkan di medan perang oleh sinar keperkasaan dan wibawa putera Sātvata (Kṛṣṇa).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that worldly sovereignty and martial reputation are insufficient when set against Kṛṣṇa’s divinely backed prowess; wise rulers should recognize superior dharmic power and avoid arrogance-driven conflict.
In the context of counsel among kings, Bhīṣma points to Kṛṣṇa’s proven dominance: among the gathered rulers, none remains undefeated when confronted by Kṛṣṇa’s might, implying that opposition to him is strategically and morally misguided.