Shloka 4
Jñāna-plava (The Raft of Knowledge): Svabhāva, Prajñā, and the Ascent to Ātmajñāna
जैगीषव्यं महाप्रज्ञं धर्माणामागतागमम् । अक्रुध्यन्तमहृष्यन्तमसितो देवलोडब्रवीत्,एक बार सम्पूर्ण धर्मोको जाननेवाले शास्त्रवेत्ता, महाज्ञानी और क्रोध एवं हर्षसे रहित जैगीषव्य मुनिसे असित-देवलने इस प्रकार पूछा
jaigīṣavyaṁ mahāprajñaṁ dharmāṇām āgatāgamaṁ | akrudhyantam ahṛṣyantam asito devalo 'bravīt ||
Bhishma dit : Asita Devala s’adressa au sage Jaigishavya—d’une grande intelligence, versé dans les traditions reçues du dharma, et affranchi de la colère comme de l’exaltation—et l’interrogea afin de connaître le dharma dans sa plénitude.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the qualifications for reliable instruction on dharma: deep learning in authoritative tradition and inner steadiness—freedom from anger and excessive joy—so that judgment remains impartial and ethically grounded.
Bhishma introduces a dialogue: the sage Asita Devala approaches and questions the learned, even-minded sage Jaigishavya to obtain a comprehensive understanding of dharma.