Shloka 18
Nāmānirukta of Nārāyaṇa (Keśava–Viṣṇu–Vāsudeva) and the Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity Theme
त्रिषु लोकेषु यद् भूतं सर्व तव मते स्थितम् । तदाज्ञापय विदष्रषे ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
triṣu lokeṣu yad bhūtaṁ sarvaṁ tava mate sthitam | tad ājñāpaya vidarṣe brūhi kiṁ karavāṇi te ||
ભીષ્મે કહ્યું—ત્રણ લોકોમાં જે કંઈ છે અથવા જે થઈ ચૂક્યું છે, તે સર્વ તમારા જ્ઞાનમાં સ્થિત છે. હે બ્રહ્મર્ષિ! આજ્ઞા આપો; કહો—હું તમારી કઈ સેવા કરું?
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dharmic humility: even a great warrior like Bhīṣma approaches a seer as the higher authority in wisdom, acknowledging the sage’s comprehensive knowledge and offering obedient service as the proper stance for receiving ethical instruction.
Bhīṣma addresses a revered sage (described as a clear-sighted brahmarṣi), praising his all-knowing insight across the three worlds and asking for direct instruction—what he should do and how he may serve—setting the stage for counsel on dharma.