Shloka 9
अयं प्राणानुत्सिसक्षुस्तं सर्वेडभ्यनुपृच्छत । कृत्स्नान् हि विविधान् धर्मश्षातुर्वर्ण्यस्य वेत्त्ययम्,'भीष्मजी अपने प्राणोंका परित्याग करना चाहते हैं, अतः आप सब लोग इनसे अपने मनकी बातें पूछ लें; क्योंकि ये चारों वर्णोंके सम्पूर्ण एवं विभिन्न धर्मोको जानते हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ayaṁ prāṇān utsisṛkṣuḥ taṁ sarve 'bhyānupṛcchata | kṛtsnān hi vividhān dharmān cāturvarṇyasya vetty ayam ||
ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า—“ภีษมะผู้นี้ปรารถนาจะปล่อยลมหายใจแห่งชีวิต; เพราะฉะนั้นพวกท่านทั้งปวงจงซักถามท่านเถิด. ด้วยว่าท่านรู้แจ้งครบถ้วนซึ่งธรรมอันหลากหลายของจตุรวรรณะ.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a great knower of dharma is about to depart, seekers should promptly inquire, because such a teacher can clarify the complete and diverse duties that sustain society—especially the dharmas connected with the fourfold social order.
Vaiśampāyana indicates that Bhīṣma is preparing to give up his life-breaths, and therefore everyone present should ask him their questions; Bhīṣma is presented as an authoritative source on the full range of cāturvarṇya-dharmas.