Shloka 23
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
तां त्वयापि हतां भीष्म कन्यां नैषितवान् यतः । भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्ते सतां मार्गमनुछित:
tāṃ tvayāpi hatāṃ bhīṣma kanyāṃ naiṣitavān yataḥ | bhrātā vicitravīryas te satāṃ mārgam anucchitaḥ ||
भीष्म! तुम्हारे द्वारा अपहृत उस कन्या को भी तुम्हारे भाई विचित्रवीर्य ने पत्नी रूप में स्वीकार नहीं किया, क्योंकि वे सज्जनों के धर्ममार्ग पर स्थित थे।
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.