Shloka 8

Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ

The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows

Devanagari script

प्राप्तकालं समाचक्षे भीष्मोडयमनुयुज्यताम्‌ । अस्तमेति हि गाड़ेयो भानुमानिव भारत

Transliteration

prāptakālaṃ samācakṣe bhīṣmoḍayam anuyujyatām | astam eti hi gāḍeyo bhānumān iva bhārata ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Thời khắc thích hợp đã đến—hãy hỏi Bhīṣma, người đang nằm trên giường mũi tên. Bởi ngài nay đã gần lúc lặn, hỡi Bhārata, như mặt trời rực rỡ sắp khuất.”

Word by Word

• प्राप्तकालम्: timely (proper at this time)
• प्राप्तकालम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्तकाल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समाचक्षे: I declare / I state
• समाचक्षे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चक्ष्
• Form: Perfect, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उदयम्: rising / ascent
• उदयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनुयुज्यताम्: let (him) be questioned / let (him) be asked
• अनुयुज्यताम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-युज्
• Form: Imperative, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive (impersonal/command form)

• अस्तम्: to setting (towards disappearance)
• अस्तम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अस्त

• एति: goes
• एति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• गाङ्गेयः: the son of Ganga (Bhishma)
• गाङ्गेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाङ्गेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भानुमान्: the radiant one (the Sun)
• भानुमान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानुमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like / as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• भारत: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Bhārata (descendant of Bharata)
• Bhānumān (the Sun)
• Śaraśayyā (bed of arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse stresses timeliness in seeking wisdom: when a great teacher is nearing the end of life, one should promptly inquire into dharma and right conduct, because the opportunity to learn will soon pass.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana signals that the moment has come for the kings—especially Yudhiṣṭhira—to question Bhīṣma, who lies on the śaraśayyā and is approaching death; Bhīṣma is compared to the sun nearing its setting.