Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Reconciliation and Partition (भीष्मोपदेशः—संधि-राज्यविभागविचारः)
व्यास उवाच अनुृतान्मोक्ष्यसे भद्रे धर्मश्लैष सनातन: । नतु वक्ष्यामि सर्वेषां पा्चाल शृणु मे स्वयम्
Vyāsa uvāca: anṛtān mokṣyase bhadre dharmaśleṣa sanātanaḥ | na tu vakṣyāmi sarveṣāṃ pāñcāla śṛṇu me svayam ||
毗耶娑说道:“高贵的夫人啊,你将从虚妄之言中得解脱;此乃与正法紧密相连的永恒法则(亦关乎般度五子的福祉)。但我不会在众人面前说出此事。般遮罗之王啊,来吧——你亲自随我到僻静处听我细说。”
व्यास उवाच
The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) as integral to sanātana-dharma: liberation from untruth is presented as a moral necessity, while also recognizing that sensitive matters may require discreet, responsible communication rather than public disclosure.
Vyāsa addresses a noble lady (contextually Kuntī), assuring her that she will be cleared of the taint of falsehood and that this aligns with enduring dharma connected to the Pāṇḍavas’ welfare. He then turns to the Pāñcāla king (Drupada) and says he will not reveal a certain matter publicly, asking him to hear it privately.