Shloka 28
Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
यावद्धि पृथिवीपाल पृथ्वीयं स्थास्यति ध्रुवा । तावत् तवाक्षया कीर्तिलोकाननुचरिष्यति,भूपाल! जबतक यह अचला पृथ्वी स्थिर रहेगी, तबतक सम्पूर्ण जगत्में आपकी अक्षय कीर्ति विख्यात होती रहेगी
yāvad dhi pṛthivīpāla pṛthvīyaṃ sthāsyati dhruvā | tāvat tavākṣayā kīrtir lokān anucariṣyati, bhūpāla ||
Hỡi bậc hộ trì cõi đất! Chừng nào trái đất kiên cố này còn bền vững, chừng ấy danh tiếng bất hoại của ngươi sẽ còn lan truyền và được tán dương khắp các thế giới.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharmic leadership creates an enduring legacy: a king’s righteous deeds generate akṣayā kīrti (imperishable renown) that persists as long as the world endures, emphasizing moral action over transient power.
Vāyudeva addresses a king with a blessing/praise, declaring that the king’s fame will remain celebrated throughout the worlds for as long as the earth stands firm—an affirmation of the lasting social memory of virtuous rule.