Shloka 3
Vetasa-Nīti: The Reed and the Flood (वेतस-नीति)
सुरारिनिलय: शश्चृत्सागर: सरिताम्पतिः । पप्रच्छ सरित: सर्वा: संशयं जातमात्मन:,एक समयकी बात है, दैत्योंके निवासस्थान और सरिताओंके स्वामी समुद्रने सम्पूर्ण नदियोंसे अपने मनका एक संदेह पूछा
surārinilayaḥ śaśvatsāgaraḥ saritāṃ patiḥ | papraccha saritaḥ sarvāḥ saṃśayaṃ jātam ātmanaḥ ||
Bhishma disse: “O Oceano, sempre constante—senhor dos rios e morada dos Daityas, inimigos dos deuses—certa vez interrogou todos os rios, desejando desfazer uma dúvida que surgira em seu próprio íntimo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic inquiry: when doubt arises, even a powerful figure seeks clarification from appropriate sources. Ethical understanding is presented as something to be questioned and refined, not assumed.
Bhishma introduces an episode in which the Ocean, described as the lord of rivers and the dwelling of the gods’ foes, gathers all rivers and asks them a question to resolve a personal doubt.