Shloka 9
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
भीष्मका युधिष्ठटिरको श्रीकृष्णकी महिमा बताना 5 है 22 + 64 ॥/ ५ शिशुपालका युद्धके लिये उद्योग ऋत्विजं मन्यसे कृष्णमथ वा कुरुनन्दन । द्वैपायने स्थिते वृद्धे कं कृष्णो<र्चितस्त्वया
ṛtvijaṁ manyase kṛṣṇam atha vā kurunandana | dvaipāyane sthite vṛddhe kaṁ kṛṣṇo 'rcitas tvayā ||
शिशुपाल उवाच—ऋत्विजं मन्यसे कृष्णमथ वा कुरुनन्दन। द्वैपायने स्थिते वृद्धे कं कृष्णोऽर्चितस्त्वया॥
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a dharmic tension between ritual hierarchy (honoring the elder sage and proper priestly roles) and exceptional honor granted to a figure deemed supremely worthy. It raises the ethical question of when established precedence may be overridden by perceived merit or divinity.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s royal sacrifice/assembly where Kṛṣṇa receives the foremost honor (agrāpūjā), Śiśupāla publicly challenges the decision. He argues that if a priestly rationale is offered, it is inconsistent because Vyāsa—an elder and authoritative sage—is present, yet Kṛṣṇa was honored first.