Shloka 4
आभिमुख्यादभिक्रम्य स्नेहात् पृच्छामि ते द्विज । विविक्ते गोमतीतीरे क॑ वा त्वं पर्युपाससे,“ब्रह्मन! मैं आपके सामने आकर प्रेमपूर्वक पूछता हूँ कि गोमतीके इस एकान्त तटपर आप किसकी उपासना करते हैं?”
ābhimukhyād abhikramya snehāt pṛcchāmi te dvija | vivikte gomatītīre kaṁ vā tvaṁ paryupāsase ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Aku mendekat berhadapan dan bertanya dengan penuh kasih, wahai yang dua kali lahir: di tebing sunyi Sungai Gomatī ini, siapakah yang engkau sembah dan layani dengan tekun?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dharmic inquiry: respectful, affectionate questioning directed toward understanding another’s object of worship and discipline, implying that spiritual practice should be approached with humility and direct engagement.
Bhīṣma approaches a Brahmin/ascetic on the secluded bank of the Gomatī and asks whom the ascetic worships there, setting up a dialogue about devotion, practice, or the nature of the revered deity/principle.