Shloka 4
त्वादृशो धर्मयुक्तो हि कुर्वाण: प्रियकाम्यया । भवत्यभ्यधिकं भीष्म लोकेष्ववमत: सताम्,भीष्म तुम्हारे-जैसा धर्मात्मा पुरुष भी जब मनमाना अथवा किसीका प्रिय करनेके लिये मुँहदेखी करने लगता है, तब वह साधु पुरुषोंके समाजमें अधिक अपमानका पात्र बन जाता है
tvādṛśo dharmayukto hi kurvāṇaḥ priyakāmyayā | bhavaty abhyadhikaṃ bhīṣma lokeṣv avamataḥ satām ||
Wahai Bhīṣma, bila seorang sepertimu—yang teguh dalam dharma—bertindak demi menyenangkan orang lain dan mencari muka, maka di mata orang-orang baik di dunia ia justru menjadi semakin tercela.
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.