Shloka 22
देवविमान-दर्शनम् / The Celestial Assembly and Vimana Spectacle
Bhīṣma–Arjuna Encounter Framed Cosmically
उक्तं दुर्योधनेनापि पुरस्ताद् वाक्यमीदृशम् । तदनुस्मृत्य गाड़ेय यथावद् वक्तुमहसि,दुर्योधनने भी पहले ऐसी बात कही थी कि पाण्डवोंका अज्ञातवास पूर्ण होनेमें संदेह है, अतः गंगानन्दन भीष्म! आप स्वयं स्मरण करके यथार्थ बात क्या है--उनका अज्ञातवास पूर्ण हो गया है या नहीं, इसका निर्णय करें
uktaṃ duryodhanenāpi purastād vākyam īdṛśam | tad anusmṛtya gāḍeya yathāvad vaktum arhasi ||
Droṇa sprach: „Auch Duryodhana hat zuvor schon in eben diesem Sinne gesprochen. Darum, eingedenk dessen, o Nachkomme der Gaṅgā, sollst du die Sache richtig darlegen—ob die Zeit der Verborgenheit der Pāṇḍavas wahrhaft vollendet ist oder nicht—damit ein gerechter Entscheid getroffen werde.“
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharmic adjudication: when a dispute hinges on a prior condition (the completion of the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito term), an elder authority should recall the facts and speak precisely, prioritizing truth and fairness over factional interest.
In the Virāṭa episode’s aftermath, the Kauravas debate whether the Pāṇḍavas have successfully completed their required period of concealment. Droṇa reminds Bhīṣma that Duryodhana has already raised doubts and urges Bhīṣma, as a senior and respected judge, to declare the correct determination.