Shloka 5
Adhyāya 290: Sāṃkhya-vidhi, Deha-doṣa, Guṇa-vicāra, and Mokṣa-gati
Bhīṣma–Yudhiṣṭhira Dialogue
ततः स तपसा युक्तः सर्वधर्मविधानवित् | नृपायानुग्रहमना मुनिर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्,तब सम्पूर्ण धर्मोके विधानको जाननेवाले वे तपस्वी मुनि राजा जनकपर अनुग्रह करनेकी इच्छासे इस प्रकार बोले
tataḥ sa tapasā yuktaḥ sarvadharmavidhānavit | nṛpāyānugrahamanā munir vākyam athābravīt |
Then that ascetic sage—disciplined by austerity and fully conversant with the ordinances of dharma—wishing to show favor to the king, spoke these words.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma-knowledge is meant to be applied with compassion: the sage’s mastery of dharma’s ordinances culminates in guiding a ruler for the welfare of society, showing that ethical instruction is an act of grace (anugraha) rather than mere scholarship.
Bhishma describes a moment where an ascetic sage, accomplished in tapas and learned in the full system of dharma, turns toward the king (identified in the accompanying context as Janaka) with the intention to benefit him and begins speaking—introducing a didactic discourse on righteous governance and conduct.