Shloka 33
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततश्रेदिपते: श्रुत्वा भीष्म: स कटुकं वच: । उवाचेदं वचो राजंश्रेदिराजस्य शृण्वत:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! शिशुपालका यह कटु वचन सुनकर भीष्मजीने शिशुपालके सुनते हुए यह बात कही--
vaiśampāyana uvāca
tataḥ śreḍipateḥ śrutvā bhīṣmaḥ sa kaṭukaṃ vacaḥ |
uvācedaṃ vaco rājan śreḍirājasya śṛṇvataḥ ||
毗湿摩听罢尸输婆罗——那位奢勒底之主——所吐出的辛辣言辞，便在奢勒底王本人亦在场聆听之时，对国王（阇那美阇耶）说道如下之语。毗湿摩将以持重之言应对辱骂，以长者之德约束纷争。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Harsh speech provokes conflict, but a dharmic elder responds with controlled, principled words. The verse frames Bhīṣma as an ethical moderator: he does not mirror bitterness; he prepares to answer in a way that upholds order and right conduct in the assembly.
After Śiśupāla (the ruler of Śreḍi) utters a bitter remark in the royal assembly, Bhīṣma hears it and begins his reply. Vaiśampāyana narrates to King Janamejaya that Bhīṣma speaks while Śiśupāla listens, signaling an impending rebuttal and moral clarification.