Shloka 4
Jñāna-plava (The Raft of Knowledge): Svabhāva, Prajñā, and the Ascent to Ātmajñāna
जैगीषव्यं महाप्रज्ञं धर्माणामागतागमम् । अक्रुध्यन्तमहृष्यन्तमसितो देवलोडब्रवीत्,एक बार सम्पूर्ण धर्मोको जाननेवाले शास्त्रवेत्ता, महाज्ञानी और क्रोध एवं हर्षसे रहित जैगीषव्य मुनिसे असित-देवलने इस प्रकार पूछा
jaigīṣavyaṁ mahāprajñaṁ dharmāṇām āgatāgamaṁ | akrudhyantam ahṛṣyantam asito devalo 'bravīt ||
Dijo Bhishma: Asita Devala se dirigió al sabio Jaigishavya—de gran intelecto, versado en las tradiciones recibidas del dharma y libre tanto de ira como de exaltación—y le preguntó para comprender el dharma en toda su plenitud.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the qualifications for reliable instruction on dharma: deep learning in authoritative tradition and inner steadiness—freedom from anger and excessive joy—so that judgment remains impartial and ethically grounded.
Bhishma introduces a dialogue: the sage Asita Devala approaches and questions the learned, even-minded sage Jaigishavya to obtain a comprehensive understanding of dharma.