सप्ताष्टदिवसास्त्वद्य विप्रस्येहागतस्य वै । तच्च कार्य न मे ख्याति दर्शनं तव काडक्षति
saptāṣṭa-divasās tv adya viprasyehāgatasya vai | tac ca kāryaṃ na me khyāti darśanaṃ tava kāṅkṣati ||
भीष्म उवाच—सप्ताष्टदिवसास्त्वद्य विप्रस्येहागतस्य वै। तच्च कार्यं न मे ख्याति; दर्शनं तव काङ्क्षति॥
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights dharmic attentiveness: when a brahmin guest arrives and remains without stating his purpose, the host must still treat the situation seriously, recognizing that a request for ‘darśana’ can itself be a meaningful, duty-laden appeal rather than mere curiosity.
Bhishma informs the addressed person that a brahmin has been present for several days. The brahmin has not disclosed any specific errand to Bhishma and appears to seek only an audience—‘the sight’—of the person being addressed.