Shloka 107
तस्मात् प्राणान् धारयिष्ये मुमूर्षुरुदगायने । यश्न दत्तो वरो महां पित्रा तेन महात्मना
tasmāt prāṇān dhārayiṣye mumūrṣur udagāyane | yasya datto varo mahān pitrā tena mahātmanā ||
Ainsi, bien que je désire partir, je maintiendrai ma vie jusqu’à ce que le Soleil prenne sa course vers le nord (uttarāyaṇa). Que s’accomplisse le grand don que m’accorda mon noble père : que je ne rencontre la mort que lorsque je la choisirai moi-même. Jusqu’à l’heure fixée pour quitter la vie, je retiendrai assurément ces souffles en moi.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights self-control and fidelity to a vow: even when death is desired, one may uphold dharma by sustaining life until the rightful, chosen, and cosmically appropriate time—honoring a boon and exercising disciplined agency over one’s end.
Bhīṣma, lying on the battlefield, resolves to keep himself alive until uttarāyaṇa. He intends to make true the boon from his father that he can die at will, so he restrains his prāṇas until the moment he chooses to depart.