Shloka 20
भृगु–भरद्वाजसंवादः: वर्णभेदस्य कर्माधारितव्याख्या
Bhrigu–Bharadvaja Dialogue: A Karma-Based Account of Varṇa
इमे मां कृमयो5दन्ति येषामुद्धरणाय वै । नास्ति शक्तिरपाणित्वात् पश्यावस्थामिमां मम
ime māṁ kṛmayo ’danti yeṣām uddharaṇāya vai | nāsti śaktir apāṇitvāt paśyāvasthām imāṁ mama ||
ビーシュマは言った。「この虫どもが、わたしの身を食い荒らしている。だが、手がないゆえに、引き剥がして投げ捨てる力がわたしにはない。いまわたしが横たわるこの惨めな有様を、汝自身の眼で見よ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the vulnerability of the embodied condition: even a mighty warrior can become helpless, reminding listeners to cultivate detachment, compassion, and steadiness in dharma rather than pride in physical power.
Bhīṣma, lying incapacitated, describes how worms are gnawing at him and how, lacking the use of hands, he cannot remove them; he asks the listener to witness his pitiable state.