Shloka 4
सभा पर्व, अध्याय ३७ — युधिष्ठिरस्य भीष्मोपदेशः
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Consultation and Bhīṣma’s Counsel in the Assembly
त्वादृशो धर्मयुक्तो हि कुर्वाण: प्रियकाम्यया । भवत्यभ्यधिकं भीष्म लोकेष्ववमत: सताम्
tvādṛśo dharmayukto hi kurvāṇaḥ priyakāmyayā | bhavaty abhyadhikaṃ bhīṣma lokeṣv avamataḥ satām ||
«Oh Bhīṣma, cuando un hombre como tú—firmemente unido al dharma—obra por deseo de complacer y se entrega a buscar favores, se vuelve aún más despreciable a los ojos de los buenos del mundo.»
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person renowned for dharma is judged more strictly: if such a person compromises principles to please others, the resulting dishonor is greater. Moral authority depends on integrity, not on seeking approval.
In the royal assembly context of the Sabha Parva, Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma sharply, accusing him of acting from favor-seeking rather than dharma, and warns that such conduct makes even a righteous elder an object of greater contempt among the virtuous.