Shloka 23
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
तां त्वयापि हतां भीष्म कन्यां नैषितवान् यतः । भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्ते सतां मार्गमनुछित:
tāṃ tvayāpi hatāṃ bhīṣma kanyāṃ naiṣitavān yataḥ | bhrātā vicitravīryas te satāṃ mārgam anucchitaḥ ||
Wahai Bhīṣma, meskipun engkau telah membawa pergi gadis itu, saudaramu Vicitravīrya tidak menerimanya sebagai isteri, kerana dia berpegang teguh pada jalan kebenaran yang dijunjung oleh orang-orang mulia.
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical legitimacy in marriage: even if a woman is obtained by force, a righteous person should not accept what violates the moral path of the virtuous (satām mārga).
Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma, accusing him regarding the abduction of a Kāśi princess and asserting that Vicitravīrya refused to marry her because he adhered to righteous conduct.