Shloka 15
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
ज्ञानवृद्धं च वृद्धं च भूयांसं केशवं मम । अजानत इवाख्यासि संस्तुवन् कौरवाधम
jñānavṛddhaṃ ca vṛddhaṃ ca bhūyāṃsaṃ keśavaṃ mama | ajānata ivākhyāsi saṃstuvan kauravādhama kauravādhama ||
Śiśupāla nói: “Ông đang ca tụng Keshava ngay trước mặt ta, gọi hắn là bậc trưởng thành về trí tuệ và cao niên về tuổi tác, như thể ta chẳng biết gì về hắn cả—hỡi kẻ tệ hại nhất trong bọn Kaurava!”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of arrogant speech: Shishupala’s contempt and abusive language in a royal assembly show how pride and envy distort judgment, turning even public discourse into adharma.
In the Sabha (royal court) setting, Shishupala reacts angrily to someone praising Krishna (Keshava). He mocks the praise—‘as if I didn’t know him’—and insults the addressee as ‘worst of the Kauravas,’ escalating the confrontation.