Shloka 23
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
तां त्वयापि हतां भीष्म कन्यां नैषितवान् यतः । भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्ते सतां मार्गमनुछित:
tāṃ tvayāpi hatāṃ bhīṣma kanyāṃ naiṣitavān yataḥ | bhrātā vicitravīryas te satāṃ mārgam anucchitaḥ ||
ভীষ্ম! তোমাৰ দ্বাৰা অপহৃত সেই কন্যাকো তোমাৰ ভ্ৰাতা বিচিত্ৰবীৰ্যই পত্নীৰূপে গ্ৰহণ নকৰিলে; কিয়নো তেওঁ সজ্জনসকলৰ ধৰ্মমাৰ্গত অচল আছিল।
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical legitimacy in marriage: even if a woman is obtained by force, a righteous person should not accept what violates the moral path of the virtuous (satām mārga).
Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma, accusing him regarding the abduction of a Kāśi princess and asserting that Vicitravīrya refused to marry her because he adhered to righteous conduct.