Shloka 33
Śiśupāla-vākya: Bhīṣma-nindā and the ‘Haṃsa’ Exemplum (शिशुपालवाक्यम् — भीष्मनिन्दा, हंसदृष्टान्तः)
अथीनां दुष्कृतां पूजां शिशुपालो व्यवस्यति । दुष्कृतायां यथान्यायं तथायं कर्तुमहति,यदि शिशुपाल इस पूजाको अनुचित मानता है, तो अब उस अनुचित पूजाके विषयमें उसे जो उचित जान पड़े, वैसा करे
adhīnām duṣkṛtāṁ pūjāṁ śiśupālo vyavasyati | duṣkṛtāyāṁ yathānyāyaṁ tathāyaṁ kartum arhati |
Dijo Bhīṣma: “Śiśupāla ha resuelto oponerse a este acto de honor, pues lo tiene por un homenaje mal otorgado o dirigido a quien no lo merece. Si considera impropio este culto, que proceda entonces del modo que juzgue justo y conveniente respecto de ese honor indebido.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Honor should align with nyāya (propriety and justice). If someone believes an honor is wrongly bestowed, the response should still be guided by what is right and orderly, not by mere anger or disruption.
During the ceremonial context of public honoring, Śiśupāla objects to the chosen recipient of worship. Bhīṣma remarks that if Śiśupāla deems the honor improper, he may act as he thinks just—framing the dispute in terms of propriety rather than personal hostility.