Shloka 32
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
इच्छतां भूमिपालानां भीष्म जीवस्यसंशयम् | लोकविद्धिष्टकर्मा हि नान्यो5स्ति भवता सम:
icchatāṁ bhūmipālānāṁ bhīṣma jīvasy asaṁśayam | lokaviddhiṣṭakarmā hi nānyo 'sti bhavatā samaḥ, bhīṣma ||
Wahai Bhīṣma, tanpa ragu nyawamu tersisa hanya karena para raja ini menghendakinya; sebab tiada penguasa lain sebanding denganmu—perbuatanmu termasyhur ke seantero dunia sebagai sesuatu yang dibenci semua orang.
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public reputation and ethical conduct become weapons in political conflict: Śiśupāla uses harsh speech to undermine Bhīṣma’s moral authority, illustrating the Mahābhārata’s concern with the dharmic limits of speech and the corrosive power of slander in royal assemblies.
In the royal assembly context, Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma directly with a provocative accusation, claiming Bhīṣma lives only because other kings tolerate him and asserting that Bhīṣma’s actions are widely notorious—part of Śiśupāla’s broader denunciation during the court proceedings surrounding honor and precedence.