Shloka 24
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
दारयोर्यस्य चान्येन मिषत:ः प्राज्ञमानिन: । तव जातान्यपत्यानि सज्जनाचरिते पथि
dārayoḥ yasya cānyena miṣataḥ prājñamāninaḥ | tava jātāny apatyāni sajjanācarite pathi ||
Śiśupāla berkata: “Bahkan ketika engkau—yang bermegah dengan kebijaksanaan—hanya memandang, anak-anak telah diperanakkan untuk dua balu isterimu oleh lelaki lain. Namun engkau masih mendakwa berdiri di atas jalan perilaku orang-orang mulia.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral accusation: claiming alignment with the ‘path of the virtuous’ is challenged when one’s conduct (or tolerated circumstances) is portrayed as violating accepted standards of propriety and honor. It highlights how dharma is contested in public discourse through appeals to reputation and social norms.
Śiśupāla is delivering a hostile critique in the royal assembly, using a pointed allegation about another man fathering children through the addressee’s widowed wives, to undermine the addressee’s claim to wisdom and righteous conduct.