Shloka 4
Jñāna-plava (The Raft of Knowledge): Svabhāva, Prajñā, and the Ascent to Ātmajñāna
जैगीषव्यं महाप्रज्ञं धर्माणामागतागमम् । अक्रुध्यन्तमहृष्यन्तमसितो देवलोडब्रवीत्
jaigīṣavyaṁ mahāprajñaṁ dharmāṇām āgatāgamaṁ | akrudhyantam ahṛṣyantam asito devalo 'bravīt ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—असित-देवलांनी महाप्रज्ञ, धर्मपरंपरेचे जाणकार आणि क्रोध व हर्ष यांपासून अलिप्त अशा जैगीषव्य मुनींना संपूर्ण धर्म जाणून घेण्याच्या हेतूने असे विचारले।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the qualifications for reliable instruction on dharma: deep learning in authoritative tradition and inner steadiness—freedom from anger and excessive joy—so that judgment remains impartial and ethically grounded.
Bhishma introduces a dialogue: the sage Asita Devala approaches and questions the learned, even-minded sage Jaigishavya to obtain a comprehensive understanding of dharma.