यो हि धर्मं विचिनुयाद् उत्कृष्टं मतिमान् नरः ॥
स वै पश्येद् यथाधर्मं न तथा चेदिराड् अयम् ॥
सवृद्धबालेष्व् अथ वा पार्थिवेषु महात्मसु ॥
को नार्हं मन्यते कृष्णं को वाप्य् एनं न पूजयेत् ॥
अथेमां दुष्कृतां पूजां शिशुपालो व्यवस्यति ॥
दुष्कृतायां यथान्यायं तथायं कर्तुम् अर्हति ॥
yo hi dharmaṃ vicinuyād utkṛṣṭaṃ matimān naraḥ ||
sa vai paśyed yathādharmaṃ na tathā cedirāḍ ayam ||
savṛddhabāleṣv atha vā pārthiveṣu mahātmasu ||
ko nārhaṃ manyate kṛṣṇaṃ ko vāpy enaṃ na pūjayet ||
athemāṃ duṣkṛtāṃ pūjāṃ śiśupālo vyavasyati ||
duṣkṛtāyāṃ yathānyāyaṃ tathāyaṃ kartum arhati ||
"For a wise man who discerns the highest dharma would see it in accordance with dharma — not as this king of Chedi sees it. Among elders and children, or among great-souled lords of the earth — who would deem Krishna unworthy? Who would fail to honor him? But if Shishupala considers this honor ill-performed, then let him deal with what is ill-performed as justice demands."
18b0f53f56dc · published Jul 16, 2026, 3:40:27 PM UTC
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Bhishma concludes with a challenge wrapped in calm: let the one who disagrees act "as justice demands" — that is, if he dares, let him contest it by deed, not by abuse. It is telling that the wise man does not fear blasphemy and does not go on persuading endlessly: having spoken the truth and invited all to agree, he leaves the obstinate man to his own choice and its consequences. The verse teaches that there is a limit to admonition: one who knows will state the truth, appeal to reason — and then fall silent, leaving the insolent to his fate. Not every heart can be healed by words; and one who, having heard the truth about the Lord, persists in blasphemy chooses his own fate, which justice will not be slow to fulfill.