Shloka 17
Bhīṣma’s Hymn to Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa’s Criteria for Divine Self-Disclosure
अमुं च लोकं त्वयि भीष्म याते ज्ञानानि नड्क्ष्यन्त्यखिलेन वीर । अतत्तु सर्वे त्वयि संनिकर्ष समागता धर्मविवेचनाय,वीर भीष्म! जब आप परलोकमें चले जाइयेगा उस समय सारे ज्ञान लुप्त हो जायूँगे; अतः ये सब लोग आपके पास धर्मका विवेचन करानेके लिये आये हैं
amuṁ ca lokaṁ tvayi bhīṣma yāte jñānāni naṅkṣyanty akhilena vīra | ataḥ tu sarve tvayi saṁnikarṣe samāgatā dharma-vivecanāya ||
O hero Bhīṣma, when you depart from this world, all branches of knowledge will perish entirely. Therefore all these persons have gathered close to you, seeking a discerning exposition of dharma.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses the urgency of preserving and transmitting dharma-knowledge: when a great knower like Bhīṣma departs, an irreplaceable reservoir of discernment may vanish, so seekers should approach such a teacher while the opportunity remains.
Vāyudeva addresses Bhīṣma, explaining why many have gathered near him: anticipating Bhīṣma’s impending departure from the world, they come to hear a careful exposition of dharma from him before that wisdom is lost.