Shloka 26
Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti
स त्वं भीष्म महाबाहो वसूनां वासवोपम: । नित्यं विप्रै: समाख्यातों नवमो5नवमो गुणै:
sa tvaṁ bhīṣma mahābāho vasūnāṁ vāsavopamaḥ | nityaṁ vipraiḥ samākhyāto navamo 'navamo guṇaiḥ ||
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను— అందుచేత, మహాబాహో భీష్మా! వసువులలో నీవు వాసవుడు (ఇంద్రుడు) వలెవు. బ్రాహ్మణులు నిన్ను ఎల్లప్పుడూ అష్టవసువుల అంసమున జనించిన తొమ్మిదవ వసువుగా—అతుల గుణసంపన్నుడిగా—ప్రకటించారు.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates Bhīṣma as a moral and heroic exemplar by grounding his stature in sacred tradition: like Indra among the Vasus, he is proclaimed the ‘ninth Vasu,’ distinguished by unsurpassed virtues. Ethical authority is shown as arising from recognized character (guṇa) and the testimony of learned custodians of dharma (vipras).
In the Śānti Parva’s discourse setting, Vaiśampāyana praises Bhīṣma, affirming his exceptional status and virtues. He reports the traditional Brahminical account that Bhīṣma is effectively a ninth Vasu—linked to the eight Vasus—thereby legitimizing Bhīṣma’s eminence as a teacher and authority in the ensuing instruction on dharma.