Śiśupāla-vadha in the Rājasūya-sabhā (शिशुपालवधः — राजसूयसभायाम्)
इदं त्वाश्वर्यभूतं मे यदिमे पाण्डवास्त्वया । अपकृष्टा: सतां मार्गान्मन्यन्ते तच्च साधथ्विति
idaṃ tv āścaryabhūtaṃ me yad ime pāṇḍavās tvayā | apakṛṣṭāḥ satāṃ mārgān manyante tac ca sādhv iti ||
“O que mais me espanta”, disse Śiśupāla, “é que estes Pāṇḍavas, desviados por ti do caminho sustentado pelos virtuosos, agora ainda considerem este feito de Kṛṣṇa correto e digno de louvor.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
The verse highlights how moral judgment can be distorted by influence and factional loyalty: even those expected to uphold the 'path of the virtuous' may come to approve questionable actions when swayed by a powerful figure.
In the royal assembly during Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya context, Śiśupāla attacks Kṛṣṇa verbally, expressing disbelief that the Pāṇḍavas—whom he implies should know dharma—now endorse Kṛṣṇa’s conduct as right.