Shloka 27
Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti
अहं च त्वाभिजानामि यस्त्वं पुरुषसत्तम । त्रिदशेष्वपि विख्यातस्त्वं शक््त्या पुरुषोत्तम:
ahaṃ ca tvābhijānāmi yastvaṃ puruṣasattama | tridaśeṣv api vikhyātas tvaṃ śaktyā puruṣottamaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Aku pun mengenali siapa dirimu, wahai yang terbaik di antara manusia. Bahkan di kalangan para dewa engkau termasyhur karena kekuatanmu, wahai insan utama.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights discernment and rightful acknowledgment of excellence: true stature is recognized not merely in human society but is so evident that it is famed even among the gods. Ethically, it models speaking truthfully and respectfully when one perceives genuine merit and power.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, reports a moment of recognition and praise: the speaker declares that he knows the addressed person’s true identity and affirms that this figure is celebrated for power even among the devas, using honorific epithets like puruṣasattama and puruṣottama.