Shloka 5
षष्ठो हि दिवसस्तेउद्य प्राप्तस्येह तपोधन । न चाभिभाषसे किंचिदाहारं धर्मवत्सल,“धर्मवत्सल तपोधन! आपको यहाँ आये आज छ: दिन हो गये; किंतु अभीतक आप कुछ भोजन लानेके लिये हमें आज्ञा नहीं दे रहे हैं
ṣaṣṭho hi divasas te ’dya prāptasyeha tapodhana | na cābhibhāṣase kiñcid āhāraṃ dharmavatsala ||
षष्ठो हि दिवसस्तेऽद्य प्राप्तस्येह तपोधन । न चाभिभाषसे किंचिदाहारं धर्मवत्सल ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical attentiveness around hospitality and ascetic discipline: a host notices the guest’s prolonged fasting and respectfully urges communication about basic needs, balancing reverence for tapas with the duty to care.
Bhishma addresses an ascetic who has been present for six days without requesting food or giving instructions about meals; Bhishma expresses concern and invites the ascetic to speak regarding sustenance.