Shloka 8
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 30: Sañjaya’s Departure and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Commission of Greetings
तथा भीष्म शान्तनवं भारतानां पितामहम् । शिरसाभिवदेथास्त्वं मम नाम प्रकीर्तयन्
tathā bhīṣma śāntanavaṃ bhāratānāṃ pitāmaham | śirasābhivadethāstvaṃ mama nāma prakīrtayan | praṇāmaṃ kṛtvā ca tataḥ pitāmahaṃ tathā vada | dādāja! tvayā śāntanoḥ kulaṃ nimagnaṃ punaruddhṛtam | idānīm api buddhyā vicārya tathā karma vidhīyatām | yena sarve tava pautrāḥ parasparaṃ premṇā jīveyuḥ ||
“Demikian pula, tundukkan kepala dan sampaikan sembah hormat—seraya menyebut namaku—kepada Bhīṣma, putra Śāntanu, sang kakek agung para Bhārata. Setelah memberi hormat, katakan kepadanya: ‘Kakek Agung, dahulu engkau telah mengangkat kembali wangsa Śāntanu yang nyaris tenggelam. Kini, renungkan lagi dengan kebijaksanaanmu dan tempuhlah jalan yang membuat semua cucumu dapat hidup bersama dalam kasih dan kerukunan.’”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid looming conflict, dharma prioritizes respectful engagement with elders and the pursuit of reconciliation; wise action should aim at restoring harmony so that kin may live in mutual affection rather than enmity.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs a messenger to salute Bhīṣma on his behalf and to urge him—remembering his past role in saving the dynasty—to deliberate and act so that the Kuru grandsons can live together in love, signaling a final attempt at peace before escalation.