Shloka 24
भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्
Departure to Behold Bhīṣma
क्षेत्र धर्मस्य कृत्स्नस्य कुरुक्षेत्रमवातरन् उन अश्वोंका बल और वेग महान् था। वे आकाशको पीते हुए-से उड़ चले, और बात- की-बातमें सम्पूर्ण धर्मके क्षेत्रभूत कुरुक्षेत्रमें जा पहुँचे || २३ ह ।।
tato yayur yatra bhīṣmaḥ śaratālpagataḥ prabhuḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kuda-kuda itu, dengan kekuatan dan kecepatan besar, seakan meneguk langit, turun ke seluruh dharma-kṣetra Kurukṣetra. Lalu mereka menuju tempat Bhīṣma yang perkasa berbaring di atas ranjang anak panah, menanti saat yang telah ditetapkan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Bhīṣma as the authoritative source for dharma-instruction: even amid the devastation of war, ethical clarity is sought from one who embodies discipline, vows, and hard-won insight. It signals a turn from battle to reflection—how rulership and conduct should be grounded in dharma after violence.
The narrating voice states that the party (the inquirers seeking counsel) goes to the spot where Bhīṣma lies on his arrow-bed. This sets the scene for the ensuing discourse in Śānti Parva, where Bhīṣma, though wounded, instructs on kingship, duty, and righteous conduct.