Shloka 12
Śiśupāla-vākya: Bhīṣma-nindā and the ‘Haṃsa’ Exemplum (शिशुपालवाक्यम् — भीष्मनिन्दा, हंसदृष्टान्तः)
ज्ञानवृद्धा मया राजन् बहव: पर्युपासिता: । तेषां कथयतां शौरेरहं गुणवतो गुणान्
jñānavṛddhā mayā rājan bahavaḥ paryupāsitāḥ | teṣāṃ kathayatāṃ śaurer ahaṃ guṇavato guṇān
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô roi, j’ai longtemps servi de nombreux anciens riches de sagesse. De leurs récits, j’ai entendu et compris les vertus de Śauri — car le véritable homme de vertu se reconnaît à ses qualités.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True understanding of virtue is refined through humble service to the wise; the greatness of a virtuous person is recognized through their guṇas (ethical excellences) as testified by reliable elders.
Bhīṣma addresses the king and grounds his forthcoming praise/assessment of Śauri (Kṛṣṇa) in authoritative tradition: he has served many learned elders and has heard from them detailed accounts of Kṛṣṇa’s virtues.