Shloka 39
गाथामप्यत्र गायन्ति ये पुराणविदो जना: । भीष्म यां तां च ते सम्यक् कथयिष्यामि भारत,तुम भी उस हंसके ही समान हो, अतः ये सब नरेश अत्यन्त कुपित होकर आज तुम्हें उसी तरह मार डालेंगे, जैसे उन पक्षियोंने हंसकी हत्या कर डाली थी। भीष्म! इस विषयमें पुराणवेत्ता विद्वान् एक गाथा गाया करते हैं। भरतकुलभूषण! मैं उसे भी तुमको भलीभाँति सुनाये देता हूँ
gāthām apy atra gāyanti ye purāṇavido janāḥ | bhīṣma yāṃ tāṃ ca te samyak kathayiṣyāmi bhārata |
尸修波罗说道：“此处亦然，通晓《往世书》(Purāṇa)之人吟唱一首传承的伽陀。噢，毗湿摩——婆罗多的后裔——我将把那首伽陀如实讲给你听。”
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.