भीष्म उवाच तस्मै प्रोवाच तत् सर्व पिता पुत्राय पृच्छते । अतीतानागते विद्वान सर्वज्ञ: सर्वधर्मवित्
bhīṣma uvāca: tasmai provāca tat sarvaḥ pitā putrāya pṛcchate | atītānāgate vidvān sarvajñaḥ sarvadharmavit ||
ភីស្មៈបានមានពាក្យថា៖ ចំពោះគាត់នោះ ព្រះបិតា វ្យាសៈ—អ្នកប្រាជ្ញដ៏សព្វជ្រាប ជ្រាបអតីត និងអនាគត ហើយជ្រាបធម៌ទាំងអស់—បានពន្យល់រឿងទាំងមូល ដោយសារកូនប្រុសបានសួរ។
भीष्म उवाच
The verse frames dharma-teaching as authoritative transmission: a supremely learned father, described as knowing past and future and all dharmas, responds fully to a sincere question from his son—highlighting inquiry (praśna) and complete instruction (upadeśa) as the ethical method of learning.
Bhishma introduces a teaching episode: Vyasa, prompted by his son's question, proceeds to explain the entire matter to him. The verse functions as a transition into Vyasa’s detailed instruction.