Shloka 15
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
यस्मिन् शौर्यमानृशंस्यं तपश्च प्रज्ञा शीलं॑ श्रुतिसत्त्वे धृतिश्व । पादौ गृहीत्वा कुरुसत्तमस्य भीष्मस्य मां तत्र निवेदयेथा:
yasmin śauryam ānṛśaṃsyaṃ tapaś ca prajñā śīlaṃ śruti-sattve dhṛtiś ca | pādau gṛhītvā kuru-sattamasya bhīṣmasya māṃ tatra nivedayethāḥ ||
Kepada Bhīṣma, datuk agung—yang terbaik antara kaum Kuru—pada dirinya bersemayam keberanian, belas kasih, tapa, kebijaksanaan, budi pekerti, ilmu tradisi suci, kemurnian watak, dan keteguhan: peganglah kedua kakinya dan sampaikan sembah sujudku kepadanya di sana.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid impending conflict, dharma requires honoring elders and recognizing virtue. Yudhiṣṭhira frames Bhīṣma as an embodiment of ideal qualities—valor tempered by compassion and steadiness—showing that moral authority and respectful conduct remain binding duties.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs a messenger to approach Bhīṣma, physically express reverence by clasping his feet, and deliver Yudhiṣṭhira’s salutations—an act of diplomacy and filial respect in the tense lead-up to war.