Shloka 18
बाढमेवं करिष्यामि काम त्वत्तो महामुने । ब्रह्मभूतं कुलं मे5स्तु धर्मे चास्य मनो भवेत्,“महामुने! बहुत अच्छा, मैं आपसे अपना मनोरथ प्रकट करूँगा। मुझे यही वर दीजिये कि मेरा कुल ब्राह्मण हो जाय और उसका धर्ममें मन लगा रहे”
bāḍham evaṁ kariṣyāmi kāma tvatto mahāmune | brahmabhūtaṁ kulaṁ me 'stu dharme cāsya mano bhavet ||
“Baiklah, aku akan melakukannya demikian. Namun, wahai resi agung, aku memohon satu anugerah daripadamu: semoga keturunanku menjadi benar-benar bersifat Brahmana, dan semoga hatinya tetap teguh berbakti kepada dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse values inner qualification over mere birth: Bhīṣma seeks that his family embody brahminical virtues—self-restraint, purity, and commitment to dharma—showing that ethical character is the true foundation of a noble lineage.
Bhīṣma agrees to comply with what has been asked of him, but then petitions the sage for a boon: that his clan become ‘brahmabhūta’ (Brahmin-like in conduct) and remain steadfastly oriented toward dharma.