Mahabharata — Sabha Parva, Shloka 1

Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta

Devanagari script

ऑपन--रा_ज छा लॉस: पजञज्चचत्वारिशो< ध्याय: श्रीकृष्णके द्वारा शिशुपालका वध

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tataḥ śrutvaiva bhīṣmasya cedirāḍ uruvikramaḥ | yuyutsur vāsudevena vāsudevam uvāca ha ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Nghe lời Bhīṣma vừa dứt, vua xứ Cedi là Śiśupāla—dũng lực phi thường—nóng lòng muốn giao chiến với Vāsudeva, liền cất lời nói với Vāsudeva như sau.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā), Active

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• भीष्मस्य: of Bhīṣma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• चेदिराट्: the king of Cedi (Śiśupāla)
• चेदिराट्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेदिराज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उरुविक्रमः: of great prowess
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरुविक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युयुत्सुः: desirous to fight
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युयुत्सु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वासुदेवेन: with Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• वासुदेवम्: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular

• ह: indeed (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Cedi (kingdom)
• Śiśupāla
• Vāsudeva (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Janamejaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how hearing wise counsel (Bhīṣma’s words) can still provoke the proud into hostility rather than humility. Ethically, it frames a contrast between honoring rightful excellence and allowing envy and ego to escalate into unrighteous conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Bhīṣma’s statement in the royal assembly, Śiśupāla, king of Cedi, becomes eager to fight and directly addresses Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa). This marks the immediate lead-in to Śiśupāla’s challenge and the ensuing climactic confrontation.