Gopradāna-phalasaṃprāpti: Nāciketa’s Vision of Vaivasvata’s Realms (गोप्रदानफलसम्प्राप्तिः — नाचिकेतोपाख्यानम्)
भीष्म उवाच हन्त ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथावद् भरतर्षभ । गदतस्तन्ममाद्येह शृणु सत्यपराक्रम
bhīṣma uvāca: hanta te vartayiṣyāmi yathāvad bharatarṣabha | gadataḥ tan mamādyeha śṛṇu satyaparākrama ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—हे भरतश्रेष्ठ, सत्यपराक्रमी! ये, मी तुला सर्व काही यथार्थपणे सांगतो. आज येथे, मी सांगत असताना, माझ्या मुखातून ते ऐक.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse establishes the ethical frame for instruction: Bhishma promises a truthful, orderly account (yathāvat) and urges attentive listening. It highlights that dharma-teaching should be transmitted with accuracy and received with disciplined attention, grounded in truth.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instructional setting, Bhishma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira (called bharatarṣabha and satyaparākrama) and signals the start of a detailed exposition, asking him to listen as Bhishma speaks.