Shloka 23
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
तां त्वयापि हतां भीष्म कन्यां नैषितवान् यतः । भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्ते सतां मार्गमनुछित:,भीष्म! तुम्हारे द्वारा अपहरण की गयी उस काशिराजकी कन्याको तुम्हारे भाई विचित्रवीर्यने अपनानेकी इच्छा नहीं की, क्योंकि वे सन्मार्गपर स्थित रहनेवाले थे
tāṃ tvayāpi hatāṃ bhīṣma kanyāṃ naiṣitavān yataḥ | bhrātā vicitravīryas te satāṃ mārgam anucchitaḥ ||
O Bhīṣma, even though you had carried off that maiden, your brother Vicitravīrya did not accept her as his wife—because he was committed to the righteous path upheld by the virtuous.
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.