Shloka 23
Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
जनार्दन! शिष्ट पुरुषोंने जिस धर्मका उपदेश किया है, वह भी मेरे हृदयमें स्फुरित हो रहा है। देश, जाति और कुलके धर्मोंका भी इस समय मुझे पूर्ण ज्ञान है ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
janārdana! śiṣṭa-puruṣaiḥ yo dharma upadiṣṭaḥ sa me hṛdi sphurati | deśa-jāti-kula-dharmāṇām api etasmin kāle me pūrṇaṃ jñānam asti ||
caturṣv āśrama-dharmeṣu yo 'rthaḥ sa ca hṛdi sthitaḥ | rāja-dharmān sakalān avagacchāmi keśava |
yuvaiva asmi samāvṛttas tvad-anudhyāna-bṛṃhitaḥ | dātuṃ śreyaḥ samartho 'smi tvat-prasādāj janārdana ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O Janārdana, ang dharma na itinuro ng mga pino at disiplinadong matatanda ay malinaw na sumisiklab sa aking puso. Sa sandaling ito, taglay ko rin ang ganap na kaalaman sa mga tungkuling hinuhubog ng lupain, pamayanan, at angkan. Ang tunay na diwa sa dharma ng apat na āśrama ay matatag na nasa aking puso. O Keśava, nauunawaan ko ang buong katawan ng rājadharma. Para bang nagbalik ako sa kabataan, pinalakas ng pagninilay sa iyo; sa iyong biyaya, O Janārdana, kaya kong ipamahagi ang tunay na kapaki-pakinabang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma affirms that true dharma is grasped through the guidance of exemplary elders and becomes inwardly realized; he claims clarity about duties across the four āśramas and especially about rāja-dharma, and credits Krishna’s grace and contemplation for his renewed capacity to teach what is truly beneficial.
In the Shanti Parva setting, Bhishma—lying on the bed of arrows and instructing Yudhishthira’s side—addresses Krishna, stating that the principles of dharma and governance have become fully clear to him and that, empowered by meditation on Krishna, he is ready to deliver authoritative instruction.