Shloka 22
Kṛṣṇa’s Dhyāna and the Prompt to Question Bhīṣma (कृष्णध्यानं भीष्मप्रश्नप्रेरणा च)
अतः महाराज युधिष्ठिर! आप भयानक पराक्रमी गंगानन्दन भीष्मके पास चलकर उनके चरणोंमें प्रणाम कीजिये और आपके मनमें जो संदेह हो उसे पूछिये ।।
ataḥ mahārāja yudhiṣṭhira! āp bhayānaka-parākramī gaṅgānandana bhīṣma-ke pāsa calakara unake caraṇoṃ meṃ praṇāma kījiye aura āpake mana meṃ jo saṃdeha ho use pūchiye || cāturvidyaṃ cātuhotraṃ cāturāśramyam eva ca | rājadharmāṃś ca nikhilān pṛcchainaṃ pṛthivīpate || pṛthvīnatha! dharma, artha, kāma aura mokṣa—ina cāroṃ vidyāoṃ ko, hotā, udgātā, brahmā aura adhvaryu se sambandha rakhanevālī yajñādi-karmōṃ ko, cāroṃ āśramōṃ ke dharmōṃ ko tathā sampūrṇa rājadharmōṃ ko unase pūchiye |
Vāsudeva dijo: «Por ello, oh gran rey Yudhiṣṭhira, ve a Bhīṣma —el poderoso hijo del Gaṅgā—, inclínate a sus pies y pregunta las dudas que aún queden en tu mente. Oh señor de la tierra, interrógalo sobre los cuatro fines de la vida —dharma, artha, kāma y mokṣa—; sobre las disciplinas sacrificiales vinculadas a los cuatro sacerdotes védicos principales (hotṛ, udgātṛ, brahmā y adhvaryu); sobre los deberes de los cuatro āśramas; y sobre todo el cuerpo de la ley real y la conducta propia del rey.»
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True governance and personal clarity arise from humble inquiry: Yudhiṣṭhira should approach a qualified elder (Bhīṣma), show reverence, and learn systematically—covering life’s aims (puruṣārthas), ritual responsibilities, āśrama-duties, and the full scope of rājadharma.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira is burdened with doubt about duty and rule. Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) directs him to the dying Bhīṣma, renowned for wisdom, to receive authoritative instruction on dharma, social-religious order, and statecraft.