Shloka 24
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
आत्मनिन्दा55त्मपूजा च परनिन्दा परस्तव: । अनाचरितमार्याणां वृत्तमेतच्चतुर्विधम्
ātmanindā ātmapūjā ca paranindā parastavaḥ | anācaritam āryāṇāṃ vṛttam etac caturvidham, bhīṣma ||
Mencela diri, memuja diri, mencela orang lain, dan memuji orang lain—empat macam laku ini tidak pernah dipraktikkan oleh para ārya.
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical ideal of restrained, dignified speech: an ārya should avoid four tendencies—self-denigration, self-praise, blaming others, and flattering others—because they distort judgment and undermine principled discourse.
In the royal assembly context of the Sabha Parva, Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma and invokes standards of ‘noble’ conduct to criticize certain forms of speech and behavior, positioning himself as appealing to traditional ethical norms during a heated court exchange.