Shloka 21
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
को हि धर्मिणमात्मानं जानन् ज्ञानविदां वर: | कुर्याद् यथा त्वया भीष्म कृतं धर्ममवेक्षता
ko hi dharmiṇam ātmānaṃ jānan jñānavidāṃ varaḥ | kuryād yathā tvayā bhīṣma kṛtaṃ dharmam avekṣatā ||
シシュパーラは言った。「自らを正しき者、賢者の中の第一と知りながら、誰がそなたのしたような卑劣な行いをするというのだ、ビーシュマよ――しかもダルマを見据えていると称しつつ。」
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical challenge: true wisdom and self-professed righteousness must be consistent with one’s actions. Shishupala argues that claiming to uphold dharma while performing a morally questionable deed is hypocrisy and invites public censure.
In the royal assembly context of the Sabha Parva, Shishupala addresses Bhishma directly, rebuking him for an action Shishupala deems ignoble, and questions how a revered elder known for dharma could act so while still invoking dharma as justification.