Shloka 17
Bhīṣma’s Hymn to Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa’s Criteria for Divine Self-Disclosure
अमुं च लोकं त्वयि भीष्म याते ज्ञानानि नड्क्ष्यन्त्यखिलेन वीर । अतत्तु सर्वे त्वयि संनिकर्ष समागता धर्मविवेचनाय
amuṁ ca lokaṁ tvayi bhīṣma yāte jñānāni naṅkṣyanty akhilena vīra | ataḥ tu sarve tvayi saṁnikarṣe samāgatā dharma-vivecanāya ||
Ô héros Bhīṣma, lorsque tu quitteras ce monde, toutes les branches du savoir périront entièrement. C’est pourquoi tous ces hommes se sont rassemblés près de toi, en quête d’un exposé pénétrant et juste du dharma.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses the urgency of preserving and transmitting dharma-knowledge: when a great knower like Bhīṣma departs, an irreplaceable reservoir of discernment may vanish, so seekers should approach such a teacher while the opportunity remains.
Vāyudeva addresses Bhīṣma, explaining why many have gathered near him: anticipating Bhīṣma’s impending departure from the world, they come to hear a careful exposition of dharma from him before that wisdom is lost.