Shloka 7
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
उभे द्विरात्रिसंध्ये वै नाभ्यगात् स ममालयम् | तस्मान्न शुद्धवते भावो मम स ज्ञायतां सुह्ृत्,“आज दो संध्याएँ व्यतीत हो गयीं; किंतु वह मेरे घरपर नहीं पधारे, अतः मेरे मनमें संदेह पैदा हो गया है। तुम मेरे मित्रका पता लगाओ
ubhe dvirātri-sandhye vai nābhyagāt sa mamālayam | tasmān na śuddhavate bhāvo mama sa jñāyatāṃ suhṛt ||
Bhīṣma sprach: «Zwei Sandhyā-Zeiten in zwei Nächten sind vergangen, und doch ist er nicht zu meiner Wohnung gekommen. Darum ist mein Geist nicht länger gewiss über die Lauterkeit seiner Absicht; sucht jenen Freund und bringt Gewissheit über ihn.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension between trust and vigilance: when expected conduct is not observed, one should not rush to condemnation but should seek verification—ascertaining facts through inquiry before forming a settled judgment.
Bhīṣma notes that two successive twilight-times have passed without a certain friend visiting his house as expected. This delay creates doubt in Bhīṣma’s mind, and he asks that the person be located and his situation clarified.