Shloka 18
Bhīṣma’s Hymn to Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa’s Criteria for Divine Self-Disclosure
तज्ज्ञातिशोकोपहतश्रुताय सत्याभिसंधाय युधिष्ठिराय । प्रब्रूहि धर्मार्थसमाधियुक्तं सत्यं वचो5स्यापनुदाशु शोकम्
vāyudeva uvāca |
taj-jñāti-śokopahata-śrutāya satyābhisaṃdhāya yudhiṣṭhirāya |
prabrūhi dharmārtha-samādhi-yuktaṃ satyaṃ vaco ’syāpanudāśu śokam ||
Vāyu berkata: “Kepada Yudhiṣṭhira yang teguh pada kebenaran—yang pengetahuannya tertindih oleh duka atas sanak-kerabat—ucapkanlah kata-kata benar yang berlandaskan dharma, artha, dan keteguhan kontemplatif; dengan kebenaran itu, segeralah lenyapkan dukanya.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthful counsel should be delivered in a way that integrates dharma (moral duty), artha (practical welfare), and samādhi (inner composure). Such integrated truth is presented as a remedy for grief that overwhelms even learned understanding.
Vāyu addresses the situation of Yudhiṣṭhira, whose scriptural learning is said to be eclipsed by sorrow for his relatives. He urges that Yudhiṣṭhira be instructed with truthful, well-balanced guidance so that his grief may be quickly removed.