Shloka 5
Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam
The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting
इच्छाम त्वां वयं ज्ञातुं का त्वं क्व च गमिष्यसि । तत्त्वेन वरवर्णाभे सर्वमेतद् ब्रवीहि न:
icchāma tvāṁ vayaṁ jñātuṁ kā tvaṁ kva ca gamiṣyasi | tattvena varavarṇābhe sarvam etad bravīhi naḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Nous désirons te connaître en vérité — qui tu es et où tu vas. Ô dame au teint éclatant, à la belle nuance, dis-nous tout cela exactement tel que c’est».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds truthful disclosure (tattvena) and careful inquiry: before judging or acting, one should seek accurate knowledge of a person’s identity and intention, and the other should respond with honesty.
Bhishma addresses a woman respectfully and asks her to state plainly who she is and where she is headed, requesting a complete and truthful account.