Shloka 23
Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
जनार्दन! शिष्ट पुरुषोंने जिस धर्मका उपदेश किया है, वह भी मेरे हृदयमें स्फुरित हो रहा है। देश, जाति और कुलके धर्मोंका भी इस समय मुझे पूर्ण ज्ञान है ।। चतुर्ष्वाश्रमधर्मेषु यो<र्थ: स च हृदि स्थित: । राजधर्माश्ष सकलानवगच्छामि केशव,युवेवास्मि समावृत्तस्त्वदनुध्यानबृंहित: । दक्तुं श्रेय: समर्थो5स्मि त्वत्प्रसादाज्जनार्दन
bhīṣma uvāca |
janārdana! śiṣṭa-puruṣaiḥ yo dharma upadiṣṭaḥ sa me hṛdi sphurati | deśa-jāti-kula-dharmāṇām api etasmin kāle me pūrṇaṃ jñānam asti ||
caturṣv āśrama-dharmeṣu yo 'rthaḥ sa ca hṛdi sthitaḥ | rāja-dharmān sakalān avagacchāmi keśava |
yuvaiva asmi samāvṛttas tvad-anudhyāna-bṛṃhitaḥ | dātuṃ śreyaḥ samartho 'smi tvat-prasādāj janārdana ||
भीष्म उवाच—जनार्दन, शिष्टैः प्रोक्तो यः धर्मः स मे हृदि स्फुरति। देशजातिकुलधर्माणां चेदानीं मे पूर्णं ज्ञानम्। चतुर्ष्वाश्रमधर्मेषु योऽर्थः स च हृदि स्थितः। राजधर्मान् सकलानवगच्छामि, केशव। युवेवास्मि समावृत्तस्त्वदनुध्यानबृंहितः। दातुं श्रेयः समर्थोऽस्मि त्वत्प्रसादाज्जनार्दन॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma affirms that true dharma is grasped through the guidance of exemplary elders and becomes inwardly realized; he claims clarity about duties across the four āśramas and especially about rāja-dharma, and credits Krishna’s grace and contemplation for his renewed capacity to teach what is truly beneficial.
In the Shanti Parva setting, Bhishma—lying on the bed of arrows and instructing Yudhishthira’s side—addresses Krishna, stating that the principles of dharma and governance have become fully clear to him and that, empowered by meditation on Krishna, he is ready to deliver authoritative instruction.