Śānti Parva, Adhyāya 52 — Bhīṣma’s Humility Before Kṛṣṇa and the Granting of Boons
तत् क्षमस्व महाबाहो न ब्रूयां किंचिदच्युत । त्वत्संनिधौ च सीदेद्धि वाचस्पतिरपि ब्रुवन्
tat kṣamasva mahābāho na brūyāṃ kiñcid acyuta | tvat-saṃnidhau ca sīded dhi vācaspatiḥ api bruvan ||
«ຂໍຈົ່ງອະໄພໃຫ້ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ, ທ່ານແຂນໃຫຍ່; ໂອ ອະຈຸຕະ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ອາດເວົ້າຫຍັງໄດ້. ແທ້ຈິງ ແມ່ນແຕ່ ວາຈັສປະຕິ (ພຣະພຶຫັດສະປະຕິ) ຜູ້ເປັນເຈົ້າແຫ່ງວາຈາ ກໍອາດຈະຫວັ່ນໄຫວໃນພຣະສຳນັກຂອງທ່ານ—ແລ້ວຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະມີປານໃດ?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights humility and reverent restraint in speech: in the presence of a supremely revered figure (Acyuta), even the greatest master of eloquence could falter, so one should speak with modesty and awareness of one’s limits.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Acyuta with deference, asking forgiveness and expressing inability to speak adequately; he underscores this by saying that even Vācaspati (Bṛhaspati), famed as lord of speech, might become hesitant in Acyuta’s presence.