Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
तस्मात् पुन्रनैश्न पौत्रैश्न धर्मान् पृष्टानू सनातनान् | विद्वाञ्जिज्ञासमानैस्त्वं प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ
tasmāt punar naiśnau pautraiś ca dharmān pṛṣṭān anu sanātanān | vidvān jijñāsamānais tvaṃ prabrūhi bharatarṣabha ||
「ゆえに、バーラタ族の雄牛よ、問われた永遠にして古来のダルマの法則を、今一度語り示せ。孫たちとナイシュナが問い求めているのだ。そなたは賢く、彼らは知を渇望している。」
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse emphasizes that dharma is ‘sanātana’—a perennial moral order—and that the wise should articulate it clearly when sincere seekers inquire, especially in response to specific questions.
Vāyudeva urges a respected Bharata elder/teacher to speak again and explain the eternal dharmas that have been asked about by Naiśna and the grandsons, highlighting the teacher’s learning and the listeners’ desire to understand.