Shloka 4
Śiśupāla-vadha in the Rājasūya-sabhā (शिशुपालवधः — राजसूयसभायाम्)
येन धर्मात्मना5>त्मानं ब्रह्मण्यमविजानता । नेषितं पाद्यमस्मै तद् दातुमग्रे दुरात्मने
yena dharmātmanātmānaṁ brāhmaṇyam avijānātā | neṣitaṁ pādyam asmai tad dātum agre durātmane ||
Śiśupāla disse: “Aquele que se diz justo, sem reconhecer minha condição de brâmane, recusou-se desde o início a oferecer-me a água cerimonial para lavar os pés—honra devida a um hóspede brâmane—retendo de mim o que deveria ter sido dado.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the dharmic weight of atithi-satkāra (honoring a guest). Withholding customary honors like pādya is framed as a moral failing, while also showing how claims of dharma can be weaponized through social-status arguments.
Śiśupāla is criticizing an opponent as ‘dharmātmā’ only in name, alleging that he refused to offer him pādya—an honor due to a Brahmin guest—because he did not acknowledge Śiśupāla’s brahminical standing. Jarāsandha is referenced as the setting/context for this grievance.