Shloka 17
Bhīṣma’s Hymn to Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa’s Criteria for Divine Self-Disclosure
अमुं च लोकं त्वयि भीष्म याते ज्ञानानि नड्क्ष्यन्त्यखिलेन वीर । अतत्तु सर्वे त्वयि संनिकर्ष समागता धर्मविवेचनाय,वीर भीष्म! जब आप परलोकमें चले जाइयेगा उस समय सारे ज्ञान लुप्त हो जायूँगे; अतः ये सब लोग आपके पास धर्मका विवेचन करानेके लिये आये हैं
amuṁ ca lokaṁ tvayi bhīṣma yāte jñānāni naṅkṣyanty akhilena vīra | ataḥ tu sarve tvayi saṁnikarṣe samāgatā dharma-vivecanāya ||
Wahai wira Bhīṣma, apabila engkau meninggalkan dunia ini, segala cabang pengetahuan akan lenyap seluruhnya. Maka sebab itulah semua orang ini berhimpun dekat denganmu, memohon agar engkau menghuraikan dan menimbang dharma dengan kebijaksanaan.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses the urgency of preserving and transmitting dharma-knowledge: when a great knower like Bhīṣma departs, an irreplaceable reservoir of discernment may vanish, so seekers should approach such a teacher while the opportunity remains.
Vāyudeva addresses Bhīṣma, explaining why many have gathered near him: anticipating Bhīṣma’s impending departure from the world, they come to hear a careful exposition of dharma from him before that wisdom is lost.