Shloka 12
Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं रहस्यमरिकर्शन । त्वमेव हार्थतत्त्वज्ञ: पृष्टोडस्मान् पृच्छसे यदा
nārada uvāca | etat te sarvam ākhyātaṃ rahasyam arikarśana | tvam eva hi arthatattvajñaḥ pṛṣṭo ’smān pṛcchase yadā | śatrusūdana |
नारद उवाच—एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं रहस्यमरिकर्शन। त्वमेव ह्यर्थतत्त्वज्ञः; पृष्टोऽस्मान् पृच्छसे यदा। शत्रुसूदन, तव प्रीत्यर्थं गुह्यमिदं मया निरूपितम्; त्रिषु लोकेषु न किञ्चिदस्ति यत्तेऽविदितम्॥
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the guarded nature of certain dharmic teachings (rahasya) and frames their disclosure as an act of trust and respect. It also highlights interpretive wisdom (arthatattvajñatā)—knowing not just words but their true purport—and models humility: even a sage presents the teaching as offered for the listener’s satisfaction while praising the listener’s comprehensive knowledge.
Nārada concludes a confidential exposition by telling the addressed hero (praised as ‘crusher/slayer of enemies’) that he has already explained the entire secret. He notes that although the hero had asked them, the hero is himself a knower of the truth; the sages spoke in response to his questioning and to please him, adding hyperbolic praise that nothing in the three worlds is unknown to him.