Shloka 16
Gautama–Yama Saṃvāda: Mātṛ-Pitṛ-Ṛṇa (Debt to Parents) and Śubha-Loka Attainment
कि नु ज्यायस्तरं लोके महत्त्वात् प्रतिभाति वः । एतदिच्छामि तत्त्वेन श्रीतुं किमिह दुर्लभम्
ki nu jyāyastaraṃ loke mahattvāt pratibhāti vaḥ | etad icchāmi tattvena śrotuṃ kim iha durlabham ||
Bhishma dit : «Dites-moi : qu’est-ce qui paraît plus grand en ce monde, lorsqu’on juge selon la grandeur véritable ? Je veux en entendre la vérité. Si, d’un côté, se tient un homme soutenu par l’espérance, et de l’autre, le ciel sans limites, lequel des deux tenez-vous pour le plus grand ? Étant venu à vous, sages fortunés et austères, qu’y aurait-il encore de difficile à obtenir — surtout la clarté sur ce doute ?»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical-philosophical inquiry into what constitutes true 'greatness' (mahattva): is vastness and external magnitude (the infinite sky) greater, or the inner human capacity sustained by hope and aspiration? Bhishma seeks a principled, reality-based answer (tattvena), emphasizing discernment rather than mere appearance.
In the Shanti Parva’s reflective setting, Bhishma addresses revered ascetics/sages and poses a doubt he wants resolved. He asks them to judge, by the standard of greatness, between an ‘hopeful man’ and the ‘endless sky,’ indicating his reliance on their tapas-backed insight to settle a subtle question.