Shloka 36
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
केचिदूचुर्महेष्वासा: श्रुत्वा भीष्मस्य तद् वच: । पापो5वलिप्तो वृद्धश्न नायं भीष्मो$्हति क्षमाम्
kecid ūcur maheṣvāsāḥ śrutvā bhīṣmasya tad vacaḥ | pāpo ’valipto vṛddhaś ca nāyaṃ bhīṣmo ’rhati kṣamām ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: Nghe những lời ấy của Bhīṣma, vài vị vua cung thủ kiệt xuất lên tiếng: “Bhīṣma này tội lỗi, kiêu ngạo, lại đã già; vì thế không đáng được tha thứ.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse shows how quickly people may deny forgiveness by labeling an opponent as sinful and arrogant; ethically, it warns that moral judgment driven by resentment can eclipse patience (kṣamā) and careful discernment of dharma.
After Bhīṣma speaks, some powerful warriors react harshly, declaring him unworthy of pardon because they view him as sinful, proud, and old—revealing rising hostility and polarization in the assembly context.