Shloka 37
प्रतिग्रहभेदः — The Distinction between Giving and Accepting
Vṛṣādarbhī–Saptarṣi Dialogue
अनुगोप्ता सुगोप्ता च नप्ता चेश्वर एव च । कीर्तितास्ते महाभागा: कालस्य गतिगोचरा:
anugoptā sugoptā ca naptā ceśvara eva ca | kīrtitās te mahābhāgāḥ kālasya gatigocarāḥ ||
ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അവർ അനുഗോപ്താ, സുഗോപ്താ, നപ്താ, ഈശ്വരൻ എന്നും കീർത്തിക്കപ്പെട്ടവർ; അവർ മഹാഭാഗന്മാർ, അവരുടെ ഉദയവും അസ്തമയവും കാലത്തിന്റെ ഗതിയിലേയ്ക്ക് ഉൾപ്പെടുന്നു.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even those praised as ideal protectors, heirs, and sovereign rulers remain within the jurisdiction of Kāla (Time). The verse underscores impermanence and the ethical need for humility in power: governance and lineage are meaningful, yet ultimately conditioned by Time’s unfolding.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction, he characterizes certain eminent figures (spoken of in the surrounding discourse) as exemplary guardians and rulers, while simultaneously reminding the listener that their status and fortunes are still governed by the course of Time.