Shloka 10
Śiśupāla-janma-lakṣaṇaṃ (Śiśupāla’s birth marks and the prophecy of his end)
पार्थिवान् पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ;: शिशुपालो5प्यचेतन: । सर्वान् सर्वात्मना तात नेतुकामो यमक्षयम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | pārthivān pārthivaśreṣṭhaḥ śiśupālo 'py acetanaḥ | sarvān sarvātmanā tāta netukāmo yamākṣayam ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó melhor dos reis, até mesmo Śiśupāla—embora afamado entre os governantes—ficara privado de discernimento. Meu caro, com todo o seu ser ele estava decidido a conduzir todos aqueles reis ao reino imperecível de Yama (a morte).”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When anger and ego eclipse discernment (viveka), even a powerful ruler becomes ‘acetana’—morally and practically blind—pushing others toward destruction. The verse warns that reckless provocation against dharma and its protectors leads not to glory but to ruin.
In the royal assembly during the Rājasūya context, Śiśupāla’s hostility escalates. Vaiśampāyana describes him as senseless and wholly intent on dragging the gathered kings toward death—i.e., toward catastrophic consequences—by fomenting confrontation.