Shloka 24
Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
जनार्दन! आपके निरन्तर चिन्तनसे मेरी शक्ति इतनी बढ़ गयी है कि मैं जवान-सा हो गया हूँ। आपके प्रसादसे अब मैं कल्याणकारी उपदेश देनेमें समर्थ हूँ ।।
janārdana! tava nirantara-cintanena mama śaktir evaṁ vardhitā yathāhaṁ yuvā iva jātaḥ. tava prasādena idānīṁ kalyāṇakara-upadeśa-dāne samartho 'smi. svayaṁ kimarthaṁ tu bhavān śreyo na prāha pāṇḍavam? kiṁ te vivakṣitaṁ cātra tad āśu vada, mādhava.
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O Janārdana, sa aking walang patid na pagninilay sa iyo, ang aking lakas ay lumago nang gayon na wari’y muli akong naging bata. Sa iyong biyaya, kaya ko na ngayong magbigay ng payong nagdudulot ng kapakanan. Ngunit nais kong malaman ito: bakit ikaw mismo ay hindi tuwirang nagsasalita sa Pāṇḍava (Yudhiṣṭhira) tungkol sa tunay na kapaki-pakinabang? O Mādhava, sabihin mo agad sa akin ang iyong layon sa bagay na ito.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true instruction (śreyas) is best delivered under divine sanction and proper role: Bhīṣma attributes his renewed capacity to teach to Kṛṣṇa’s grace, and asks why Kṛṣṇa chooses to have Bhīṣma serve as the instructor—underscoring humility, devotion, and the ethics of authoritative counsel.
In Śānti Parva, after the war, Yudhiṣṭhira seeks guidance on dharma and governance. Bhīṣma, lying on the bed of arrows, prepares to instruct him. Here Bhīṣma addresses Kṛṣṇa, saying that meditation on him has restored his vigor and asking why Kṛṣṇa does not personally give Yudhiṣṭhira the beneficial teaching, requesting Kṛṣṇa’s intention.