Shloka 23
Kṛṣṇa’s Dhyāna and the Prompt to Question Bhīṣma (कृष्णध्यानं भीष्मप्रश्नप्रेरणा च)
तस्मिन्नस्तमिते भीष्मे कौरवाणां धुरंधरे । ज्ञानान्यस्तं गमिष्यन्ति तस्मात् त्वां चोदयाम्यहम्
tasminn astamite bhīṣme kauravāṇāṁ dhuraṁdhare | jñānāny astaṁ gamiṣyanti tasmāt tvāṁ codayāmy aham ||
เมื่อภีษมะ—ผู้แบกรับภาระแห่งวงศ์กุรุอย่างมั่นคง—ลับไปดุจดวงอาทิตย์ รัศมีแห่งความรู้หลากหลายก็จักมืดดับลง; เพราะฉะนั้นเราจึงเร่งเร้าให้ท่านไป ณ ที่นั้นเดี๋ยวนี้
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wisdom embodied in righteous elders and teachers is time-bound; when such a person departs, access to living guidance diminishes. Hence one should seek counsel promptly, especially when dharma and governance are at stake.
Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) warns that Bhīṣma—likened to a sun whose setting will dim the light of knowledge—is nearing his end, and therefore urges the listener to go to Bhīṣma to receive instruction and guidance while it is still possible.