Shloka 4
Janamejaya’s Appeal for Pacification and Śaunaka’s Counsel on Humility (जनमेजय-शौनक संवादः)
तद् ब्रवीतु भवान् क्षिप्रं कि करोमि किमिच्छसि । प्रणयेन ब्रवीमि त्वां त्वं हि न: शरणागत:
tad bravītu bhavān kṣipraṁ ki karomi kim icchasi | praṇayena bravīmi tvāṁ tvaṁ hi naḥ śaraṇāgataḥ ||
“ฉะนั้นจงกล่าวโดยเร็วเถิด ว่าข้าพเจ้าควรทำสิ่งใด ท่านปรารถนาสิ่งใด ข้าพเจ้าถามด้วยไมตรี เพราะท่านมาหาเราในฐานะผู้มาขอที่พึ่ง”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical duty of receiving a śaraṇāgata (one seeking refuge) with affection and prompt readiness to help—hospitality and protection are treated as obligations of dharma.
Bhishma addresses a visitor who has come seeking shelter, urging him to speak his request quickly and offering service, emphasizing that the guest is under their protection.