Shloka 9
Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
अयं प्राणानुत्सिसक्षुस्तं सर्वेडभ्यनुपृच्छत । कृत्स्नान् हि विविधान् धर्मश्षातुर्वर्ण्यस्य वेत्त्ययम्,'भीष्मजी अपने प्राणोंका परित्याग करना चाहते हैं, अतः आप सब लोग इनसे अपने मनकी बातें पूछ लें; क्योंकि ये चारों वर्णोंके सम्पूर्ण एवं विभिन्न धर्मोको जानते हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ayaṁ prāṇān utsisṛkṣuḥ taṁ sarve 'bhyānupṛcchata | kṛtsnān hi vividhān dharmān cāturvarṇyasya vetty ayam ||
قال فايشَمبايانا: «إنّ هذا بهيشما، وقد عزم على أن يترك أنفاسه الحياتية، ينبغي أن يُسأل منكم جميعًا. فهو يعلم على التمام شتّى الواجبات (الدَّرما) الخاصة بالنظام الاجتماعي ذي الفئات الأربع (الفَرْنا).»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a great knower of dharma is about to depart, seekers should promptly inquire, because such a teacher can clarify the complete and diverse duties that sustain society—especially the dharmas connected with the fourfold social order.
Vaiśampāyana indicates that Bhīṣma is preparing to give up his life-breaths, and therefore everyone present should ask him their questions; Bhīṣma is presented as an authoritative source on the full range of cāturvarṇya-dharmas.