Shloka 11
Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti
ततो वृद्ध॑ तथा दृष्टवा गाज़ेयं यदुकौरवा: । परिवार्य ततः सर्वे निषेदु: पुरुषर्षभा:,तदनन्तर वे सभी यदुवंशी और कौरव नरश्रेष्ठ बूढ़े गड़ानन्दन भीष्मजीका दर्शन करके उन्हें चारों ओरसे घेरकर बैठ गये
tato vṛddhaṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā gāṅgeyaṃ yadu-kauravāḥ | parivārya tataḥ sarve niṣeduḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then, seeing the aged Bhīṣma—son of the Gaṅgā—the Yādavas and the Kauravas all gathered around him on every side and sat down. The scene underscores the reverence due to an elder and a great warrior-teacher, as the assembled nobles prepare to listen and learn from one who embodies hard-won experience and dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical posture of approaching wisdom: even powerful nobles show humility and respect before an elder and dharma-knower. It frames Bhīṣma as a legitimate moral authority whose counsel is to be received with attentiveness and decorum.
After seeing the aged Bhīṣma (Gāṅgeya), the Yādavas and Kauravas gather around him and sit down, indicating the formal beginning of a listening session in which Bhīṣma will speak on dharma and statecraft.