Shloka 15
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
पृथिव्यां सागरान्तायां यो वै प्रतिसमो भवेत् | दुर्योधन त्वं राजेन्द्रमतिक्रम्य महाभुजम्,इस समुद्रपर्यन्त सारी पृथ्वीपर जो अद्वितीय अनुपम वीर हैं, उन राजाधिराज महाबाहु दुर्योधनको, अस्त्रविद्यामें निपुण और सुदृढ़पराक्रमी राजा जयद्रथको और विश्वविख्यात विक्रमशाली महाबली किम्पुरुषा-चार्य ट्रमको छोड़कर तुम कृष्णकी प्रशंसा क्यों करते हो?
pṛthivyāṃ sāgarāntāyāṃ yo vai pratisamo bhavet | duryodhana tvaṃ rājendram atikramya mahābhujam |
సముద్రాంతమైన ఈ భూమిపై ఎవడు సమానుడని చెప్పగలిగితే, రాజేంద్రుడైన మహాబాహు దుర్యోధనుని దాటి నీవు కేశవుని ఎందుకు స్తుతిస్తున్నావు?
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how honor can be contested when judged by different standards: Śiśupāla argues from worldly criteria—rank, martial prowess, and royal prestige—while the broader episode contrasts this with the assembly’s recognition of Kṛṣṇa’s exceptional status. Ethically, it illustrates how pride and partisan loyalty can distort judgment about true worth.
During the royal assembly connected with Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya, Śiśupāla objects to the special honor shown to Kṛṣṇa. Here he rhetorically asks why Kṛṣṇa is praised while eminent kings/warriors (he singles out Duryodhana in this line) are ‘passed over,’ escalating the confrontation that will culminate in Śiśupāla’s downfall.