Shloka 21
Brāhmaṇa-kṛtya, Āśrama-niyama, and Dāna-prasaṃsā
Duties of the Brāhmaṇa, āśrama discipline, and praise of giving
यदेवमनुजातस्य धातारो विदधु: पुरा । तदेवानुचरिष्यामि किं मे मृत्यु: करिष्यति
yad evam anujātasya dhātāro vidadhuḥ purā | tad evānucariṣyāmi kiṁ me mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Anumang itinakda noon ng mga tagapag-ayos ng sansinukob para sa akin sa simula pa ng buhay, iyon ang sinunod ko mula nang ako’y isilang—at iyon din ang patuloy kong susundin. Kung gayon, ano ang magagawa sa akin ng Kamatayan?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast adherence to one’s ordained dharma and life-course removes fear of death: when one acts in alignment with the dispensation set by the cosmic order, death loses its power to intimidate.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma speaks from his bed of arrows, expressing unwavering resolve: he has lived according to what was ordained for him and will continue so, declaring that death cannot shake him.