Shloka 14
Pātra-Lakṣaṇa and Niścita-Dharma
Marks of a Worthy Recipient and Stable Criteria of Dharma
पृष्टश्न तेन विप्रेण दृष्ट॑ त्वेतन्निदर्शनम् । प्राह विप्रं तदा विप्र: सुप्रीतेनान््तरात्मना,ब्राह्मणने उनकी यात्राके विषयमें पूछा, तब उन्होंने प्रसन्नचित्तसे जो कुछ वहाँ देखा था, सब बताना आरम्भ किया--
pṛṣṭaś ca tena vipreṇa dṛṣṭvā tv etan nidarśanam | prāha vipraṁ tadā vipraḥ suprītenāntarātmanā ||
Bhishma said: When that brahmin questioned him about what he had witnessed as an illustrative example, the brahmin—his inner self deeply pleased—then began to relate to the other brahmin everything he had seen there, in the context of his journey. The passage frames truthful narration and respectful inquiry as part of dharmic conduct.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic communication: a respectful question by a learned person is answered with a truthful, complete account, offered with a pure and pleased inner disposition—suggesting that ethical instruction is best transmitted through sincere inquiry and honest narration.
Bhishma frames a scene where one brahmin asks another about an illustrative experience he has seen; the second brahmin, inwardly delighted, begins to recount what he witnessed during his journey, setting up the ensuing teaching or story.