Shloka 8
Brāhmaṇa-kṛtya, Āśrama-niyama, and Dāna-prasaṃsā
Duties of the Brāhmaṇa, āśrama discipline, and praise of giving
एक: शास्ता न द्वितीयो<5स्ति शास्ता गर्भ शयानं पुरुषं शास्ति शास्ता । तेनानुयुक्त: प्रवणादिवोदकं यथा नियुक्तोडस्मि तथा वहामि,जगत्का शासन करनेवाला एक ही है, दूसरा नहीं। वही शासक गर्भमें सोये हुए जीवका भी शासन करता है, जैसे जल निम्न स्थानकी ओर ही प्रवाहित होता है, उसी प्रकार प्राणी उस शासकसे प्रेरित होकर उसकी अभीष्ट दिशाको ही गमन करता है। उस ईश्वरकी जैसी प्रेरणा होती है, उसीके अनुसार मैं भी कार्यभार वहन करता हूँ
bhīṣma uvāca | ekaḥ śāstā na dvitīyo 'sti śāstā garbhaśayānaṁ puruṣaṁ śāsti śāstā | tenānuyuktaḥ pravaṇādivodakaṁ yathā niyukto 'smi tathā vahāmi ||
Bhīṣma said: “There is one sole Ruler—there is no second. That very Governor directs even the person lying in the womb. Moved by His appointment, a being proceeds in the direction He intends—just as water, by its nature, flows toward lower ground. In the same way, I too bear my allotted burden according to the impulse and command of that Lord.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a single supreme Governor (Īśvara) directs all beings, even from the womb; individual actions unfold according to that higher ordination, like water naturally flowing down a slope.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira, Bhishma explains the principle of divine governance and how beings—including himself—carry out their roles as assigned, emphasizing humility and acceptance of one’s appointed duty.