Shloka 3
Bhīṣma–Śiśupāla-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma and Shishupala’s exchange in the assembly
नावि नौरिव सम्बद्धा यथान्धो बान्धमन्वियात् | तथाभूता हि कौरव्या येषां भीष्म त्वमग्रणी:
nāvi naur iva sambaddhā yathāndho bāndham anviyāt | tathābhūtā hi kauravyā yeṣāṃ bhīṣma tvam agraṇīḥ ||
“Hỡi Bhīṣma! Như chiếc thuyền chỉ buộc vào chiếc thuyền khác, như kẻ mù lần theo kẻ mù—đám Kaurava này cũng vậy, bởi họ có một người dẫn đầu như ông.”
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns unthinking allegiance and misguided leadership: when guidance lacks moral and practical discernment, followers become like the blind led by the blind—bound together yet directionless.
In the royal assembly, Śiśupāla attacks Bhīṣma with harsh sarcasm, claiming the Kauravas are in a pitiable state because they follow Bhīṣma’s lead, likening them to boats tied together or blind men following blind men.