Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 2
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय २: संजयस्य दिव्यदृष्टिप्रदानम् तथा निमित्तवर्णनम्
Granting Sañjaya Divine Sight and the Description of Omens
भविष्यति रणे घोरे भरतानां पितामह: । प्रत्यक्षदर्शी भगवान् भूतभव्यभविष्यवित्
bhaviṣyati raṇe ghore bharatānāṃ pitāmahaḥ | pratyakṣadarśī bhagavān bhūtabhavyabhaviṣyavit |
Vaiśampāyana dit : Dans la bataille terrible qui allait éclater, le vénérable aïeul des Bharata — Bhagavān Vyāsa, fils de Satyavatī, qui voyait directement ce qui devait venir et connaissait passé, présent et avenir — se rendit auprès du roi Dhṛtarāṣṭra, fils de Vicitravīrya. Dhṛtarāṣṭra, méditant l’injustice de ses fils, s’abîmait dans le chagrin et l’angoisse ; et Vyāsa lui parla en secret.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that catastrophic war arises from adharma and human choices; even when a seer can foresee outcomes, moral accountability remains with those who commit injustice. Vyāsa’s presence functions as ethical counsel to a grieving king, urging recognition of wrongdoing rather than denial.
As the two armies stand facing each other, Vyāsa—described as a knower of time and a direct witness of future results—approaches Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who is distressed while reflecting on his sons’ unjust actions. Vyāsa then speaks to him privately, setting up a moment of counsel before the war unfolds.