Shloka 5
Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga
Body-Relinquishment
व्यासेन वेदविदुषा नारदेन सुरर्षिणा । देवस्थानेन वात्स्येन तथाश्मकसुमन्तुना
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
vyāsena vedaviduṣā nāradena surarṣiṇā |
devastānena vātsyena tathāśmakasumantunā ||
śraddhā-dama-śamopetair vataś candram ivā grahaiḥ |
Vaiśampāyana dit : « Bhīṣma était entouré de sages vénérables — Vyāsa, connaisseur du Veda ; Nārada, le voyant divin ; et d’autres encore, tels Devastāna, Vātsya, Aśmaka et Sumantu — hommes pourvus de foi, de maîtrise de soi et de paix intérieure. Au milieu d’eux, Bhīṣma brillait d’un éclat particulier, tel la lune entourée des planètes. »
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral and spiritual authority is strengthened by śraddhā (faith), dama (self-restraint), and śama (inner calm). Bhīṣma’s role as a teacher of dharma is portrayed as being validated and illuminated by the presence of disciplined sages, emphasizing that ethical instruction rests on both learning and character.
In the Śānti Parva setting, Bhīṣma lies as the great instructor while eminent ṛṣis gather around him. The verse lists leading sages and uses the image of the moon surrounded by planets to convey Bhīṣma’s prominence amid a learned assembly.