Shloka 2
नक्तंचराणां भूतानां राजन्यानां विशाम्पते | शयन प्राप्य रहिते मनसा समचिन्तयम्,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजेन्द्र! तदनन्तर मैं रातके समय एकान्तमें शय्यापर जाकर ब्राह्मणों, पितरों, देवताओं, निशाचरों, भूतों तथा राजर्षिगणोंको मस्तक झुकाकर प्रणाम करनेके पश्चात् मन-ही-मन इस प्रकार चिन्ता करने लगा
naktaṃcarāṇāṃ bhūtānāṃ rājanyānāṃ viśāmpate | śayanaṃ prāpya rahite manasā samacintayam ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh señor de los pueblos, después de eso, de noche, al llegar a un lecho apartado, reflexioné en mi mente—tras haber inclinado primero la cabeza con reverencia ante los brahmanes, los Pitṛs, los dioses, los seres que vagan en la noche, los espíritus y los rishis reales».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before forming counsel or judgment, one should cultivate humility and inner clarity—symbolized here by reverence to spiritual authorities (brahmins), ancestors, gods, and even feared or marginal beings—then engage in calm, solitary reflection.
Bhishma describes a moment after some preceding event: at night he withdraws to a secluded resting place and begins to deliberate mentally, having first offered respectful salutations to various orders of beings, setting the stage for the advice or conclusion he is about to present.