Shloka 22
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
चेत् त्वं धर्म विजानासि यदि प्राज्ञा मतिस्तव । अन्यकामा हि धर्मज्ञा कन्यका प्राज्ञमानिना । अम्बा नामेति भद्रं ते कथं सापहता त्वया,यदि तुम धर्मको जानते हो, यदि तुम्हारी बुद्धि उत्तम ज्ञान और विवेकसे सम्पन्न है तो तुम्हारा भला हो, बताओ, काशिराजकी जो धर्मज्ञ कन्या अम्बा दूसरे पुरुषमें अनुरक्त थी, उसका अपनेको पण्डित माननेवाले तुमने क्यों अपहरण किया?
cet tvaṁ dharma vijānāsi yadi prājñā matis tava | anyakāmā hi dharmajñā kanyakā prājñamāninā | ambā nāmeti bhadraṁ te kathaṁ sā apahatā tvayā ||
Śiśupāla said: “If you truly understand dharma, and if your intellect is genuinely wise and discerning, then tell me—may it be well with you—why did you, who consider yourself learned, abduct Ambā, that dharma-knowing maiden of the King of Kāśī, when her heart was already set on another man?”
शिशुपाल उवाच