Shloka 107
तस्मात् प्राणान् धारयिष्ये मुमूर्षुरुदगायने । यश्न दत्तो वरो महां पित्रा तेन महात्मना
tasmāt prāṇān dhārayiṣye mumūrṣur udagāyane | yasya datto varo mahān pitrā tena mahātmanā ||
ゆえに、去りたい思いを抱きつつも、太陽が北行（ウッタラーヤナ）へ転ずるまで、私は命を保ち続けよう。高徳なる父が我に授けた大いなる恩寵—「死は自ら望む時にのみ訪れる」—その賜物が成就せんことを。命を捨てるべき定めの時が来るまで、私はこの息を必ずや身内に留め置く。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights self-control and fidelity to a vow: even when death is desired, one may uphold dharma by sustaining life until the rightful, chosen, and cosmically appropriate time—honoring a boon and exercising disciplined agency over one’s end.
Bhīṣma, lying on the battlefield, resolves to keep himself alive until uttarāyaṇa. He intends to make true the boon from his father that he can die at will, so he restrains his prāṇas until the moment he chooses to depart.