Shloka 39
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
गाथामप्यत्र गायन्ति ये पुराणविदो जना: । भीष्म यां तां च ते सम्यक् कथयिष्यामि भारत
gāthām apy atra gāyanti ye purāṇavido janāḥ | bhīṣma yāṃ tāṃ ca te samyak kathayiṣyāmi bhārata |
Śiśupāla nói: “Ở đây nữa, những người thông hiểu Purāṇa vẫn hát một bài gāthā truyền đời. Hỡi Bhīṣma—hỡi hậu duệ Bharata—ta sẽ thuật lại cho ngươi thật chính xác bài gāthā ấy.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse appeals to received tradition: ethical or political criticism is strengthened by citing authoritative lore (Purāṇic gāthās). It also highlights how public speech in an assembly seeks legitimacy through precedent and remembered narratives.
In the royal assembly context, Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma and announces that he will recite a well-known traditional gāthā sung by Purāṇa-knowers, using it to support his ongoing argument and reproach.