Shloka 107
तस्मात् प्राणान् धारयिष्ये मुमूर्षुरुदगायने । यश्न दत्तो वरो महां पित्रा तेन महात्मना
tasmāt prāṇān dhārayiṣye mumūrṣur udagāyane | yasya datto varo mahān pitrā tena mahātmanā ||
Oleh itu, walaupun aku rindu untuk pergi, aku akan menahan nyawaku hingga Matahari beralih ke peredaran utara (uttarāyaṇa). Biarlah anugerah agung yang dikurniakan kepadaku oleh ayahandaku yang mulia terlaksana—bahawa aku akan menemui maut hanya apabila aku sendiri memilihnya. Hingga tiba saat yang telah ditetapkan untuk melepaskan hidup, pasti akan kutahan nafas-nafas ini dalam diriku.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights self-control and fidelity to a vow: even when death is desired, one may uphold dharma by sustaining life until the rightful, chosen, and cosmically appropriate time—honoring a boon and exercising disciplined agency over one’s end.
Bhīṣma, lying on the battlefield, resolves to keep himself alive until uttarāyaṇa. He intends to make true the boon from his father that he can die at will, so he restrains his prāṇas until the moment he chooses to depart.