Shloka 9
Śānti Parva, Adhyāya 52 — Bhīṣma’s Humility Before Kṛṣṇa and the Granting of Boons
“मेरा बल शरीरको छोड़ता-सा जान पड़ता है। ये प्राण निकलनेको उतावले हो रहे हैं। मेरे मर्मस्थानोंमें बड़ी पीड़ा हो रही है; अतः मेरा चित्त भ्रान्त हो गया है ।।
durbalyāt sajjate vāg me sa kathaṃ vaktum utsahe | sādhu me tvaṃ prasīdasva dāśārha-kula-vardhana ||
„Meine Kraft scheint den Körper zu verlassen. Diese Atemzüge drängen hinaus. In meinen Lebenspunkten wütet heftiger Schmerz; darum ist mein Geist verwirrt. Aus Schwäche stockt mir die Rede, und meine Zunge scheint am Gaumen zu kleben; wie sollte ich in solchem Zustand sprechen? O Mehrer des Dāśārha-Geschlechts, sei mir gnädig — sei mir ganz gewogen.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-spiritual posture of humility: when one’s capacities fail, one should acknowledge limitation without pretense and seek support from the worthy—here, the revered lord—through sincere, respectful supplication.
A speaker, physically weakened and unable to speak properly, confesses that his voice is failing and appeals to Kṛṣṇa—addressed as the enhancer of the Dāśārha lineage—to show favor so that he may proceed despite his frailty.