अहिंसा-आत्मौपम्य-उपदेशः | Instruction on Ahiṃsā and Self-Comparison Ethics
अकाल दशाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: रूप-सौन्दर्य और लोकप्रियताकी प्राप्तिके लिये मार्गशीर्षमासमें चन्द्र-व्रत करनेका प्रतिपादन वैशम्पायन उवाच शरतल्पगतं भीष्मं॑ वृद्ध कुरूपितामहम् | उपगम्य महाप्राज्ञ: पर्यमृच्छद् युधिष्ठिर:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | śarat-talpa-gataṃ Bhīṣmaṃ vṛddhaṃ kuru-pitāmaham | upagamya mahā-prājñaḥ paryamṛcchad Yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Yudhiṣṭhira, yang amat bijaksana, mendekati Bhishma—datuk tua kaum Kuru yang terbaring di atas hamparan anak panah—lalu bertanya dengan penuh hormat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse establishes the ethical method of learning dharma: a ruler should approach a qualified elder-teacher with humility and ask carefully. Legitimate authority and moral clarity arise from disciplined inquiry, especially after crisis.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira goes to Bhīṣma, who lies on the bed of arrows, and begins questioning him. This initiates a didactic sequence in which Bhīṣma instructs on dharma, conduct, and governance.