Shloka 35
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
स हंस: सम्प्रमत्तानामप्रमत्त: स्वकर्मणि । ततः प्रक्षीयमाणेषु तेषु तेष्वण्डजो5पर: । अशड्कत महाप्राज्ञ: स कदाचिद् ददर्श ह
sa haṁsaḥ sampramattānām apramattaḥ svakarmaṇi | tataḥ prakṣīyamāṇeṣu teṣu teṣv aṇḍajo 'paraḥ | aśaṅkata mahāprājñaḥ sa kadācid dadarśa ha ||
その白鳥は、他の者たちが油断しているのを見ると、自らの企みにだけは常に目を光らせていた。やがて卵が次々と失われ始めると、別の鳥――大いなる知恵を備えた者――が白鳥を疑い、ある日ついに、その悪行を自らの目で見届けたのである。
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Carelessness invites harm, while wrongdoing often hides behind a mask of diligence; therefore, discernment and watchfulness are necessary to detect deception and protect what is entrusted to a community.
Śiśupāla describes a situation where a swan stays conspicuously alert while others are negligent; as eggs begin to be destroyed, a wise bird suspects the swan and eventually catches him in the act.