Shloka 34
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
ते च तस्य समभ्याशे निक्षिप्याण्डानि सर्वश: । समुद्राम्भस्यमज्जन्त चरन्तो भीष्म पक्षिण: । तेषामण्डानि सर्वेषां भक्षयामास पापकृत्
te ca tasya samabhyāśe nikṣipyāṇḍāni sarvaśaḥ | samudrāmbhasy amajjanta caranto bhīṣma pakṣiṇaḥ | teṣām aṇḍāni sarveṣāṃ bhakṣayāmāsa pāpakṛt, bhīṣma! haṃsaḥ ||
そしてその鳥たちは、おおビーマよ、彼を信じて、卵をことごとく彼のそばに置き、海の水に潜ってはあちこちを巡った。だがその邪なる白鳥は、彼らすべての卵を食らい尽くした――信頼を踏みにじり、無垢を害する裏切りの相である。
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Trust (viśvāsa) is ethically binding: exploiting another’s confidence—especially the helpless (like eggs left for safekeeping)—is portrayed as pāpa (sin/adharma). The verse condemns betrayal and warns that apparent guardianship can mask predation.
Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma and recounts a vignette: birds, believing a swan to be trustworthy, leave their eggs near him while they dive and wander in the sea; the swan, however, is an evil-doer who eats all the eggs.