Sabhā-praveśa, Dāna, and the Courtly Convergence (सभा-प्रवेशः दानं च)
शिशुपाल: सहसुतः करूषाधिपतिस्तथा । वृष्णीनां चैव दुर्धर्षा: कुमारा देवरूपिण:
śiśupālaḥ sahasutaḥ karūṣādhipatis tathā | vṛṣṇīnāṃ caiva durdharṣāḥ kumārā devarūpiṇaḥ ||
ศิศุปาลพร้อมด้วยโอรสทั้งหลาย และเจ้าแห่งแคว้นกรูษะด้วย; อีกทั้งเหล่าเจ้าชายวงศ์วฤษณีผู้ยากจะปราบ ผู้มีรูปโฉมดุจเทพ—ก็ล้วนอยู่ในที่นั้น
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how political power concentrates in royal gatherings: formidable rulers and princes assemble, and such proximity of strength and pride often becomes the backdrop for ethical tests—restraint, respect, and adherence to dharma amid rivalry.
Vaiśampāyana is enumerating notable attendees in the great assembly context of the Sabha Parva, naming Śiśupāla with his sons, the king of Karūṣa, and the formidable, godlike Vṛṣṇi princes as part of the gathered nobility.