Shloka 24
शिलवृत्ति: कथान्ते तु सिद्धमामन्त्रय यत्नत: । प्रश्न॑ पप्रच्छ मेधावी यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि,बातचीत पूरी होनेपर शिलोउ्छवृत्तिवाले बुद्धिमान् गृहस्थ ब्राह्मणने सिद्धको सम्बोधित करके यत्नपूर्वक वही प्रश्न पूछा, जो तुम मुझसे पूछ रहे हो
śilavṛttiḥ kathānte tu siddham āmantraya yatnataḥ | praśnaṃ papraccha medhāvī yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi ||
Bhishma said: When the conversation had come to its end, the wise householder Brahmin—one who lived by gleaning—carefully addressed the Siddha and asked him the very question that you are now asking me.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the proper method of seeking dharma: after completing respectful dialogue, one should pose one’s central question with care and earnest effort. It emphasizes disciplined inquiry (praśna) as a moral act, not casual curiosity.
Bhishma connects the listener’s present question to an earlier exemplary episode: a frugal, gleaning-livelihood householder Brahmin respectfully approaches a Siddha at the end of their conversation and asks the same question now being asked of Bhishma, setting up an instructive answer grounded in tradition.