Shloka 19
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
दृष्टस्ते5हं प्रतिगच्छस्व तात शोचत्यसौ तव देहस्य कर्ता । ददानि कि चापि मन:प्रणीत॑ प्रियातिथेस्तव कामान् वृणीष्व
dṛṣṭas te 'haṃ pratigacchasva tāta śocaty asau tava dehasya kartā | dadāni kiṃ cāpi manaḥ-praṇītaṃ priyātithes tava kāmān vṛṇīṣva ||
பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்— “குழந்தையே! நீ என்னைக் கண்டுவிட்டாய்; இப்போது திரும்பிச் செல். உன் உடலை உருவாக்கிய உன் தந்தை துயரில் மூழ்கியுள்ளார். நீ எனக்கு அன்பான விருந்தினர்; உன் மனம் எண்ணிய ஆசைகளைத் தேர்ந்தெடு—நீ கேட்பதனை நான் அளிப்பேன்.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma (the duty of honoring a guest) through generosity and respectful speech, while also affirming filial responsibility: the guest should return because his father is grieving.
Bhishma addresses a young visitor who has come to see him. Having received the visit, Bhishma urges him to go back to his sorrowing father, and—treating him as a cherished guest—offers to fulfill any wish the visitor may request.