Shloka 14
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
इति सन्तो5नुशासन्ति सज्जन धर्मिण: सदा । भीष्म लोके हि तत् सर्व वितथं त्वयि दृश्यते
iti santaḥ anuśāsanti sajjanā dharmiṇaḥ sadā | bhīṣma loke hi tat sarvaṃ vitathaṃ tvayi dṛśyate, bhīṣma ||
Śiśupāla nói: “Các bậc thiện lương, người giữ dharma, vẫn luôn răn dạy như thế: ấy là đạo lý. Nhưng hỡi Bhīṣma, nơi ông thì mọi lời dạy ấy dường như hóa thành giả dối—ít nhất là trong mắt thế gian.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts the universal moral instruction given by the righteous with the perception that such dharma becomes ineffective or ‘false’ when a respected authority figure does not embody it; ethical teaching must be matched by conduct, especially in the public eye.
In the royal assembly, Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma directly, accusing him that although saints and virtuous people constantly teach dharma, Bhīṣma’s stance or behavior makes that dharma appear untrue to the world—an attack meant to shame Bhīṣma and undermine the moral legitimacy of the assembly’s actions.