Shloka 11
Pātra-Lakṣaṇa and Niścita-Dharma
Marks of a Worthy Recipient and Stable Criteria of Dharma
ऋषिणा प्रसादिता चास्मि तव हेतोर्दविजर्षभ | तस्य सम्माननार्थ मे त्वयि वाक््यं प्रभाषितम्
ṛṣiṇā prasāditā cāsmi tava hetor dvijarṣabha | tasya sammānanārthaṃ me tvayi vākyaṃ prabhāṣitam ||
ஓ த்விஜரிஷபா! உன் பொருட்டே அந்த ரிஷி என்மேல் பிரசன்னமடைந்து அருளினார்; ஆகவே அவரை மதிப்பதற்காகவே நான் உன்னிடம் இவ்வார்த்தைகளைச் சொன்னேன்.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes gratitude and proper honoring of spiritual authority: Bhishma frames his counsel as offered not for self-display but to respect the sage whose favor was gained, showing that ethical speech should be rooted in reverence and right intention.
Bhishma addresses a Brahmin interlocutor, explaining that a sage had been pleased on the Brahmin’s account; consequently, Bhishma has spoken his words to the Brahmin specifically as an act of honoring that sage.