Shloka 21
को हि धर्मिणमात्मानं जानन् ज्ञानविदां वर: | कुर्याद् यथा त्वया भीष्म कृतं धर्ममवेक्षता,भीष्म! कौन ऐसा पुरुष होगा, जो अपनेको ज्ञानवानोंमें श्रेष्ठ और धर्मात्मा जानते हुए भी ऐसे नीच कर्म करेगा, जो धर्मपर दृष्टि रखते हुए भी तुम्हारे द्वारा किये गये हैं
ko hi dharmiṇam ātmānaṃ jānan jñānavidāṃ varaḥ | kuryād yathā tvayā bhīṣma kṛtaṃ dharmam avekṣatā ||
Shishupala said: “Who, knowing himself to be righteous and the foremost among the wise, would commit so base an act as the one done by you, Bhishma—done even while claiming to keep Dharma in view?”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical challenge: true wisdom and self-professed righteousness must be consistent with one’s actions. Shishupala argues that claiming to uphold dharma while performing a morally questionable deed is hypocrisy and invites public censure.
In the royal assembly context of the Sabha Parva, Shishupala addresses Bhishma directly, rebuking him for an action Shishupala deems ignoble, and questions how a revered elder known for dharma could act so while still invoking dharma as justification.