Shloka 27
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
इष्टं दत्तमधीतं च यज्ञाश्व बहुदक्षिणा: । सर्वमेतदपत्यस्य कलां नाहन्ति षोडशीम्,यज्ञ, दान, स्वाध्याय तथा बहुत दक्षिणावाले बड़े-बड़े यज्ञ--ये सब संतानकी सोलहवीं कलाके बराबर भी नहीं हो सकते
iṣṭaṃ dattaṃ adhītaṃ ca yajñāś ca bahu-dakṣiṇāḥ | sarvam etad apatyasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm ||
Śiśupāla berkata: “Pemujaan menurut upacara, sedekah yang diberikan, pengajian suci yang dituntut, bahkan korban suci yang besar dengan dakṣiṇā yang melimpah—semuanya itu tidak dapat menyamai walau seperenam belas nilai zuriat.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts the exceptional value of progeny within gṛhastha-dharma: ritual merit (worship, charity, Vedic study, and lavish sacrifices) is portrayed as inferior—even to a sixteenth part—when compared to the significance of having offspring, which sustains lineage and social-religious continuity.
In the Sabha Parva assembly context, Śiśupāla is delivering a pointed speech. Here he elevates the importance of offspring over conventional religious merits, using a striking comparison to argue his position and to frame what he considers true value and status in society.