Shloka 107
तस्मात् प्राणान् धारयिष्ये मुमूर्षुरुदगायने । यश्न दत्तो वरो महां पित्रा तेन महात्मना
tasmāt prāṇān dhārayiṣye mumūrṣur udagāyane | yasya datto varo mahān pitrā tena mahātmanā ||
तस्मान्मुमूर्षुरप्यहं प्राणान् धारयितास्म्यहम्। उदगायने मरणकाङ्क्षी यावद् भानुरुदेति हि॥ यश्च मे पित्रा महात्मना वरो दत्तो महान् पुरा—इच्छामृत्युरिति—स सिध्यतु न संशयः॥ नियतं यावद् उत्सर्गकालं तावद् एतान् ध्रुवं धारयिष्यामि प्राणान्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights self-control and fidelity to a vow: even when death is desired, one may uphold dharma by sustaining life until the rightful, chosen, and cosmically appropriate time—honoring a boon and exercising disciplined agency over one’s end.
Bhīṣma, lying on the battlefield, resolves to keep himself alive until uttarāyaṇa. He intends to make true the boon from his father that he can die at will, so he restrains his prāṇas until the moment he chooses to depart.