Shloka 35
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
स हंस: सम्प्रमत्तानामप्रमत्त: स्वकर्मणि । ततः प्रक्षीयमाणेषु तेषु तेष्वण्डजो5पर: । अशड्कत महाप्राज्ञ: स कदाचिद् ददर्श ह
sa haṁsaḥ sampramattānām apramattaḥ svakarmaṇi | tataḥ prakṣīyamāṇeṣu teṣu teṣv aṇḍajo 'paraḥ | aśaṅkata mahāprājñaḥ sa kadācid dadarśa ha ||
Jener Schwan, da er die anderen unachtsam sah, blieb für sein eigenes Vorhaben stets wachsam. Als dann ihre Eier nach und nach zugrunde gingen, schöpfte ein anderer Vogel, von großer Klugheit, Verdacht gegen den Schwan und wurde eines Tages selbst Zeuge seiner Missetat.
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Carelessness invites harm, while wrongdoing often hides behind a mask of diligence; therefore, discernment and watchfulness are necessary to detect deception and protect what is entrusted to a community.
Śiśupāla describes a situation where a swan stays conspicuously alert while others are negligent; as eggs begin to be destroyed, a wise bird suspects the swan and eventually catches him in the act.