Shloka 12
Bhīṣma’s Hymn to Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa’s Criteria for Divine Self-Disclosure
भवांस्तु मम भक्तश्च नित्यं चार्जवमास्थित: । दमे तपसि सत्ये च दाने च निरत: शुचि:
bhavāṁstu mama bhaktaś ca nityaṁ cārjavam āsthitaḥ | dame tapasi satye ca dāne ca nirataḥ śuciḥ ||
Vāyu nói: “Ngươi quả thật là kẻ sùng kính ta, và luôn an trú trong sự ngay thẳng. Ngươi có kỷ luật trong tự chế, chuyên cần khổ hạnh, chân thật và bố thí, và thanh tịnh trong hạnh kiểm.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises and upholds a dharmic character: devotion joined with moral simplicity (ārjava), sense-control (dama), disciplined effort (tapas), truthfulness (satya), and generosity (dāna). It presents purity (śuci) as the natural outcome of sustained ethical practice.
Vāyu addresses a person he recognizes as his devotee, affirming the devotee’s established virtues. The speech functions as a commendation and validation of the listener’s conduct, highlighting the qualities expected of an exemplary dharmic individual in the Śānti Parva’s moral discourse.