Shloka 9
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
स मे भवान् शंसतु सर्वमेतत् सामान्यशब्दैश्व विशेषणैश्न । स मे भवान् शंसतु तावदेत- ज्ज्ञाने फलं कर्मणि वा यदस्ति
sa me bhavān śaṃsatu sarvam etat sāmānyaśabdaiś ca viśeṣaṇaiś ca | sa me bhavān śaṃsatu tāvad etaj jñāne phalaṃ karmaṇi vā yad asti ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Mögest du mir all dies darlegen—sowohl in allgemeinen Worten als auch mit genauen Unterscheidungen. Sage mir dann: Welche Frucht gehört wahrhaft der Erkenntnis, und welche Frucht gehört dem Handeln (Karma), sofern ein solcher Unterschied besteht?“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma requests a clear doctrinal clarification: explain the topic both broadly and with fine distinctions, especially the respective ‘fruits’ (results) of jñāna (knowledge) and karma (action). The verse frames a classic Mahābhārata concern—how to weigh inner realization against outward duty in the pursuit of dharma and the highest good.
Within the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Bhīṣma (as teacher) continues a careful inquiry into dharma by asking his interlocutor to articulate the matter systematically—first in general language, then with specific differentiations—focusing on whether knowledge and action yield distinct outcomes.