Shloka 96
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
कासि कस्य कुतश्चरैति त्ववाहमभिचोदिता । तत्रोत्तरमिदं वाक््यं राजन्नेकमना: शृणु,महाराज! आपने मुझसे पूछा था कि आप कौन हैं, किसकी हैं और कहाँसे आयी हैं? अतः इसके उत्तरमें मेरा यह कथन एकचित्त होकर सुनिये
kāsi kasya kutaś caraiti tvāham abhichoditā | tatrottaram idaṁ vākyaṁ rājann ekamanāḥ śṛṇu ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Tu m’as interrogé : qui es-tu, à qui appartiens-tu, et d’où es-tu venue ? Aussi, ô roi, écoute d’un esprit rassemblé cette unique réponse de ma part.»
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models disciplined dialogue: a ruler should inquire clearly, and the respondent should answer with focus and truth. It also emphasizes attentive listening (ekamanāḥ) as an ethical requirement in receiving instruction.
Bhīṣma introduces his response to a king’s threefold question—identity, affiliation, and origin—asking the king to listen attentively as he gives a single, definitive reply.