Shloka 15
अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance
यस्मिन् शौर्यमानृशंस्यं तपश्च प्रज्ञा शीलं॑ श्रुतिसत्त्वे धृतिश्व । पादौ गृहीत्वा कुरुसत्तमस्य भीष्मस्य मां तत्र निवेदयेथा:,जिनमें वीरत्व, दया, तपस्या, बुद्धि, शील, शास्त्रज्ञान, सत्त्व और धैर्य आदि सदगुण विद्यमान हैं, उन कुरुश्रेष्ठ पितामह भीष्मके दोनों चरण पकड़कर मेरा प्रणाम निवेदन करना
yasmin śauryam ānṛśaṃsyaṃ tapaś ca prajñā śīlaṃ śruti-sattve dhṛtiś ca | pādau gṛhītvā kuru-sattamasya bhīṣmasya māṃ tatra nivedayethāḥ ||
Kay Bhīṣma, ang dakilang lolo—pinakamainam sa mga Kuru—na kinaroroonan ng kagitingan, habag, pag-aayuno at pagninilay, karunungan, mabuting asal, kaalaman sa banal na tradisyon, kadalisayan ng loob, at katatagan: hawakan ang kaniyang dalawang paa at ihatid doon ang aking pagyukod at pagpupugay.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid impending conflict, dharma requires honoring elders and recognizing virtue. Yudhiṣṭhira frames Bhīṣma as an embodiment of ideal qualities—valor tempered by compassion and steadiness—showing that moral authority and respectful conduct remain binding duties.
Yudhiṣṭhira instructs a messenger to approach Bhīṣma, physically express reverence by clasping his feet, and deliver Yudhiṣṭhira’s salutations—an act of diplomacy and filial respect in the tense lead-up to war.