Shloka 12
अथोवाच ह्ृषीकेशं पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर: । नान्यस्तु देवकीपुत्राच्छक्त: प्रष्टें पितामहम्,तब पाण्बुपुत्र युधिष्ठिरे हृषीकेशकी ओर लक्ष्य करके कहा--दिव्यज्ञानसम्पन्न देवकीनन्दन भगवान् श्रीकृष्णको छोड़कर दूसरा कोई ऐसा नहीं है, जो पितामहसे प्रश्न कर सके”
atho uvāca hṛṣīkeśaṃ pāṇḍuputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | nānyas tu devakīputrāc chaktaḥ praṣṭuṃ pitāmaham ||
अथोवाच हृषीकेशं पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। नान्यस्तु देवकीपुत्राच्छक्तः प्रष्टुं पितामहम्॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights discernment about spiritual and moral authority: profound questions on dharma should be posed by one who has the requisite insight and standing. Yudhiṣṭhira’s deference underscores humility and the recognition that Kṛṣṇa is uniquely qualified to draw out Bhīṣma’s highest counsel.
In Śānti Parva, after the war, Yudhiṣṭhira seeks guidance from Bhīṣma (lying on his bed of arrows). Here he turns to Kṛṣṇa (Hṛṣīkeśa) and states that only Kṛṣṇa is capable of properly questioning the Grandsire, setting up the forthcoming instruction.