Shloka 2
आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्
The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope
संशयो मे महानेष समुत्पन्न: पितामह । छेत्ता च तस्य नान्यो<स्ति त्वत्त: परपुरञज्जय
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca — saṁśayo me mahān eṣa samutpannaḥ pitāmaha | chettā ca tasya nānyo 'sti tvattaḥ parapurañjaya ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Grandfather, a great doubt has arisen in my mind. There is no one who can cut through it except you, O conqueror of others’ cities.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the proper dharmic approach to moral uncertainty: when a profound doubt arises, one should seek clarification from a trustworthy, experienced authority—here, Bhīṣma—rather than acting on confusion or impulse.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma respectfully and admits a major inner doubt. He asks Bhīṣma to resolve it, affirming that no one else is as capable of dispelling his uncertainty.