Shloka 11
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
अभश्रृत्थाम्नि स्थिते वीरे सर्वशास्त्रविशारदे | कथं कृष्णस्त्वया राजन्नर्चित: कुरुनन्दन
abhāśrutthāmni sthite vīre sarvaśāstraviśārade | kathaṃ kṛṣṇas tvayā rājann arcitaḥ kurunandana ||
சிசுபாலன் கூறினான்—ஓ அரசே, ஓ குருநந்தனா! எல்லா சாஸ்திரங்களிலும் தேர்ந்த வீர அஸ்வத்தாமா இருக்கையில் நீ கிருஷ்ணனை எவ்வாறு அர்ச்சித்தாய்?
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public honor in a royal assembly becomes a test of values: whether precedence is granted by worldly criteria (age, martial prowess, learning) or by a deeper recognition of spiritual and ethical greatness. Śiśupāla frames the issue as a breach of propriety to undermine Kṛṣṇa’s honor.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s grand rite and court assembly, Kṛṣṇa is given special worship/foremost honor. Śiśupāla objects, arguing that respected warriors and learned figures (here, Aśvatthāmā) are present, so honoring Kṛṣṇa first is, in his view, unjustified.