Shloka 14
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
इति सन्तो5नुशासन्ति सज्जन धर्मिण: सदा । भीष्म लोके हि तत् सर्व वितथं त्वयि दृश्यते,भीष्म! जगत्में साधु धर्मात्मा पुरुष सज्जनोंको सदा इसी धर्मका उपदेश देते रहते हैं; किंतु तुम्हारे निकट यह सब धर्म मिथ्या दिखायी देता है
iti santaḥ anuśāsanti sajjanā dharmiṇaḥ sadā | bhīṣma loke hi tat sarvaṃ vitathaṃ tvayi dṛśyate, bhīṣma ||
“Thus do the good and righteous always instruct the virtuous: this is the way of dharma. Yet, Bhīṣma, in your case all that teaching appears false—at least as the world sees it. Your conduct makes the very principles you are meant to uphold seem untrue.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts the universal moral instruction given by the righteous with the perception that such dharma becomes ineffective or ‘false’ when a respected authority figure does not embody it; ethical teaching must be matched by conduct, especially in the public eye.
In the royal assembly, Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma directly, accusing him that although saints and virtuous people constantly teach dharma, Bhīṣma’s stance or behavior makes that dharma appear untrue to the world—an attack meant to shame Bhīṣma and undermine the moral legitimacy of the assembly’s actions.