Shloka 107
तस्मात् प्राणान् धारयिष्ये मुमूर्षुरुदगायने । यश्न दत्तो वरो महां पित्रा तेन महात्मना
tasmāt prāṇān dhārayiṣye mumūrṣur udagāyane | yasya datto varo mahān pitrā tena mahātmanā ||
Kaya, bagama’t nananabik nang lumisan, pananatilihin ko ang aking buhay hanggang sa lumihis ang Araw sa paghilaga (uttarāyaṇa). Nawa’y matupad ang dakilang biyayang ipinagkaloob sa akin ng marangal kong ama—na ang kamatayan ay darating lamang kapag ako mismo ang pumili. Hanggang sa dumating ang itinakdang oras ng pagbitaw sa buhay, tiyak na pipigilan ko sa aking loob ang mga hiningang ito.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights self-control and fidelity to a vow: even when death is desired, one may uphold dharma by sustaining life until the rightful, chosen, and cosmically appropriate time—honoring a boon and exercising disciplined agency over one’s end.
Bhīṣma, lying on the battlefield, resolves to keep himself alive until uttarāyaṇa. He intends to make true the boon from his father that he can die at will, so he restrains his prāṇas until the moment he chooses to depart.