Shloka 8
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 30: Sañjaya’s Departure and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Commission of Greetings
तथा भीष्म शान्तनवं भारतानां पितामहम् । शिरसाभिवदेथास्त्वं मम नाम प्रकीर्तयन्
tathā bhīṣma śāntanavaṃ bhāratānāṃ pitāmaham | śirasābhivadethāstvaṃ mama nāma prakīrtayan | praṇāmaṃ kṛtvā ca tataḥ pitāmahaṃ tathā vada | dādāja! tvayā śāntanoḥ kulaṃ nimagnaṃ punaruddhṛtam | idānīm api buddhyā vicārya tathā karma vidhīyatām | yena sarve tava pautrāḥ parasparaṃ premṇā jīveyuḥ ||
Do mesmo modo, inclina a cabeça e presta reverência—pronunciando o meu nome—a Bhīṣma, filho de Śāntanu, o avô venerável dos Bhāratas. Depois de o saudar, fala assim a esse avô: “Avô! Outrora restauraste a linhagem de Śāntanu quando ela afundava. Agora, reflete novamente com tua sabedoria e toma um rumo pelo qual todos os teus netos possam viver juntos em amor mútuo.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid looming conflict, dharma prioritizes respectful engagement with elders and the pursuit of reconciliation; wise action should aim at restoring harmony so that kin may live in mutual affection rather than enmity.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs a messenger to salute Bhīṣma on his behalf and to urge him—remembering his past role in saving the dynasty—to deliberate and act so that the Kuru grandsons can live together in love, signaling a final attempt at peace before escalation.