Shloka 10
नमो वसिष्ठाय महाव्रताय पराशरं वेदनिधि नमस्ये । नमो>स्त्वनन्ताय महोरगाय नमोस्तु सिद्धेभ्य इहाक्षयेभ्य:
namo vasiṣṭhāya mahāvratāya parāśaraṁ vedanidhiṁ namasye | namo 'stv anantāya mahoragāya namo 'stu siddhebhya iha akṣayebhyaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Sembah sujud kepada Vasiṣṭha, pengamal ikrar suci yang agung. Aku menunduk kepada Parāśara, khazanah kebijaksanaan Veda. Sembah sujud kepada Ananta, ular perkasa. Sembah sujud kepada para Siddha yang tidak binasa, yang bersemayam di sini.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharmic instruction is best approached with humility and reverence toward realized exemplars—sages of vow and learning (Vasiṣṭha, Parāśara) and perfected beings (Siddhas). Such salutations establish ethical seriousness, reminding the listener that dharma rests on discipline, knowledge, and spiritual attainment.
Bhīṣma, in the Anuśāsana Parva’s didactic setting, recites an invocation-like sequence of salutations. He honors renowned sages and cosmic beings before proceeding with counsel on dharma, using praise and remembrance to sanctify and authorize the teaching context.