Shloka 18
Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti
यच्च भूतं भविष्यं च भवच्च पुरुषर्षभ । सर्व तज्ज्ञानवृद्धस्य तव भीष्म प्रतिष्ठितम्,'पुरुषप्रवर भीष्म! आप ज्ञानमें सबसे बढ़े-चढ़े हैं। आपकी बुद्धिमें भूत, भविष्य और वर्तमान सब कुछ प्रतिष्ठित है
yac ca bhūtaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ ca bhavac ca puruṣarṣabha | sarvaṃ taj jñānavṛddhasya tava bhīṣma pratiṣṭhitam ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O Stier unter den Menschen, o Erster der Männer — Bhīṣma —, weil du in Weisheit am weitesten fortgeschritten bist, sind in deinem Verständnis alle Dinge fest gegründet: was war, was sein wird und was jetzt ist.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse establishes Bhīṣma as an authoritative teacher whose wisdom comprehends the full scope of time—past, present, and future—thereby legitimizing his ethical and dharmic instruction in the Śānti Parva.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Bhīṣma is praised as supremely wise, setting the stage for his counsel. The statement functions as a framing endorsement of Bhīṣma’s capacity to guide others on dharma and right conduct.