Shloka 22
Kṛṣṇa’s Dhyāna and the Prompt to Question Bhīṣma (कृष्णध्यानं भीष्मप्रश्नप्रेरणा च)
अतः महाराज युधिष्ठिर! आप भयानक पराक्रमी गंगानन्दन भीष्मके पास चलकर उनके चरणोंमें प्रणाम कीजिये और आपके मनमें जो संदेह हो उसे पूछिये ।।
ataḥ mahārāja yudhiṣṭhira! āp bhayānaka-parākramī gaṅgānandana bhīṣma-ke pāsa calakara unake caraṇoṃ meṃ praṇāma kījiye aura āpake mana meṃ jo saṃdeha ho use pūchiye || cāturvidyaṃ cātuhotraṃ cāturāśramyam eva ca | rājadharmāṃś ca nikhilān pṛcchainaṃ pṛthivīpate || pṛthvīnatha! dharma, artha, kāma aura mokṣa—ina cāroṃ vidyāoṃ ko, hotā, udgātā, brahmā aura adhvaryu se sambandha rakhanevālī yajñādi-karmōṃ ko, cāroṃ āśramōṃ ke dharmōṃ ko tathā sampūrṇa rājadharmōṃ ko unase pūchiye |
Vāsudeva berkata: “Oleh itu, wahai raja agung Yudhiṣṭhira, pergilah kepada Bhīṣma—putera Gaṅgā yang perkasa—tunduklah di kakinya, dan tanyakan segala keraguan yang masih tinggal di hatimu. Wahai tuan bumi, tanyakan kepadanya tentang empat tujuan hidup—dharma, artha, kāma, dan mokṣa; tentang tatatertib korban suci yang berkaitan dengan empat imam Veda utama (hotṛ, udgātṛ, brahmā, dan adhvaryu); tentang kewajipan empat āśrama; serta seluruh himpunan undang-undang raja dan tata laku pemerintahan.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True governance and personal clarity arise from humble inquiry: Yudhiṣṭhira should approach a qualified elder (Bhīṣma), show reverence, and learn systematically—covering life’s aims (puruṣārthas), ritual responsibilities, āśrama-duties, and the full scope of rājadharma.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira is burdened with doubt about duty and rule. Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) directs him to the dying Bhīṣma, renowned for wisdom, to receive authoritative instruction on dharma, social-religious order, and statecraft.