Shloka 15
Śiśupāla-janma-lakṣaṇaṃ (Śiśupāla’s birth marks and the prophecy of his end)
वैशम्पायन उवाच इति तस्य वच: श्रुत्वा ततश्रेदिपतिर्नुप: । भीष्म रूक्षाक्षरा वाच: श्रावयामास भारत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! भीष्मजीकी यह बात सुनकर चेदिराज शिशुपाल उनको बड़ी कठोर बातें सुनाने लगा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā tataś cedi-patir nṛpaḥ | bhīṣmaṃ rūkṣākṣarā vācaḥ śrāvayāmāsa bhārata ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच—इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ततश्चेदिपतिर्नृपः । भीष्मं रूक्षाक्षरा वाचः श्रावयामास भारत ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: when pride and anger arise in a royal assembly, words can become weapons. It implicitly contrasts restraint and dharmic discourse with rūkṣa (harsh) speech that escalates conflict and dishonors both speaker and setting.
After Bhīṣma’s statement is heard, Śiśupāla—the king of Cedi—reacts by launching into harsh, insulting speech directed at Bhīṣma, as Vaiśampāyana narrates this to King Janamejaya.