Shloka 9
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
स मे भवान् शंसतु सर्वमेतत् सामान्यशब्दैश्व विशेषणैश्न । स मे भवान् शंसतु तावदेत- ज्ज्ञाने फलं कर्मणि वा यदस्ति
sa me bhavān śaṃsatu sarvam etat sāmānyaśabdaiś ca viśeṣaṇaiś ca | sa me bhavān śaṃsatu tāvad etaj jñāne phalaṃ karmaṇi vā yad asti ||
Bhīṣma said: “May you explain all this to me—both in general terms and with precise distinctions. Tell me, then, what fruit truly belongs to knowledge, or what fruit belongs to action, if such a difference exists.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma requests a clear doctrinal clarification: explain the topic both broadly and with fine distinctions, especially the respective ‘fruits’ (results) of jñāna (knowledge) and karma (action). The verse frames a classic Mahābhārata concern—how to weigh inner realization against outward duty in the pursuit of dharma and the highest good.
Within the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Bhīṣma (as teacher) continues a careful inquiry into dharma by asking his interlocutor to articulate the matter systematically—first in general language, then with specific differentiations—focusing on whether knowledge and action yield distinct outcomes.