Shloka 53
Adhyāya 39: Śiśupāla’s Censure and Bhīma’s Contained Wrath (शिशुपाल-निन्दा तथा भीमक्रोध-निग्रहः)
मानिनां बलिनां राज्ञां मध्ये वै दर्शिते पदे । सहदेवने महामानी और बलवान् राजाओंके बीच खड़े होकर अपना पैर दिखाया था, तो भी जो बुद्धिमान एवं श्रेष्ठ नरेश थे, उनमेंसे कोई कुछ न बोला
mānināṁ balināṁ rājñāṁ madhye vai darśite pade | sahadevena mahāmānī balavān rājñāṁ madhye sthitvā svapādaḥ pradarśitaḥ, tathāpi ye buddhimantaḥ śreṣṭhā nṛpāḥ teṣāṁ madhye kaścid api na kiñcid abravīt |
Waiśampāyana berkata: Di tengah para raja yang congkak dan perkasa, Sahadeva—berdiri di antara para penguasa besar itu—memperlihatkan kakinya. Namun, sekalipun demikian, tak seorang pun dari raja-raja yang bijak dan terkemuka di sana mengucapkan sepatah kata pun.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even wise people can become silent in the face of wrongdoing when surrounded by power, pride, and social pressure; ethical courage requires speaking up against insult and injustice, not merely recognizing it.
In a royal assembly filled with proud and powerful rulers, Sahadeva publicly displays his foot as a provocative gesture; despite the presence of discerning and eminent kings, no one responds, highlighting the tense atmosphere and the paralysis of the court.