Shloka 27
राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान
Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence
ततो दीनमना भीष्ममुवाच कुरुसत्तम: | नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णा भ्यां पादौ तस्य शनै:स्पृशन्
tato dīnamanaḥ bhīṣmam uvāca kurusattamaḥ | netrābhyām aśrupūrṇābhyāṃ pādau tasya śanaiḥ spṛśan |
അപ്പോൾ കുരുശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ, മനസ്സ് ദുഃഖഭാരിതമായി, ഭീഷ്മനോട് സംസാരിച്ചു. കണ്ണുകൾ കണ്ണീരാൽ നിറഞ്ഞിരിക്കെ, അവൻ മൃദുവായി ഭീഷ്മന്റെ പാദങ്ങൾ സ്പർശിച്ചു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights humility and ethical seriousness: in moments of moral crisis and grief, one approaches a revered elder-teacher with reverence, acknowledging responsibility and seeking dharmic guidance rather than acting from pride or despair.
After the war, the Kuru leader (Yudhiṣṭhira) is overwhelmed with sorrow and approaches Bhīṣma, who lies on his bed of arrows. Tearful, he respectfully touches Bhīṣma’s feet and begins to speak, setting the stage for Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma in the Śānti Parva.