Shloka 19
Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Reconciliation and Partition (भीष्मोपदेशः—संधि-राज्यविभागविचारः)
व्यास उवाच अनुृतान्मोक्ष्यसे भद्रे धर्मश्लैष सनातन: । नतु वक्ष्यामि सर्वेषां पा्चाल शृणु मे स्वयम्
Vyāsa uvāca: anṛtān mokṣyase bhadre dharmaśleṣa sanātanaḥ | na tu vakṣyāmi sarveṣāṃ pāñcāla śṛṇu me svayam ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: “O marangal na ginang, mapapalaya ka mula sa kasinungalingan; ito ang walang hanggang dharma, mahigpit na kaugnay ng katuwiran (at sa kapakanan ng mga Pāṇḍava). Ngunit hindi ko ito sasabihin sa harap ng lahat. O hari ng Pāñcāla, lumapit ka—pakinggan mo ito mula sa akin mismo, nang lihim.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) as integral to sanātana-dharma: liberation from untruth is presented as a moral necessity, while also recognizing that sensitive matters may require discreet, responsible communication rather than public disclosure.
Vyāsa addresses a noble lady (contextually Kuntī), assuring her that she will be cleared of the taint of falsehood and that this aligns with enduring dharma connected to the Pāṇḍavas’ welfare. He then turns to the Pāñcāla king (Drupada) and says he will not reveal a certain matter publicly, asking him to hear it privately.