Shloka 95
कथं महात्मा गाजड़ेय: सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वर: । कालकर्ता नरव्याघ्र: सम्प्राप्ते दक्षिणायने
kathaṃ mahātmā gāṅgeyaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | kālakartā naravyāghraḥ samprāpte dakṣiṇāyane ||
三阇耶说道：“那位大心的毗湿摩，恒河之子——诸持兵者之最，众人之虎，甚至能自定死期——为何在太阳进入南行（达克希那耶那）之时，竟接受了死亡？如此自制而能主宰命运者，为何要在那一季节离去？”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical and spiritual problem of death’s timing: even one who can choose the moment of death (kālakartā) is still interpreted through dharma and cosmic order (the sun’s course). It invites reflection on how personal agency, vows, and the auspiciousness of time interact in a dharmic worldview.
Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, expresses wonder: Bhīṣma—renowned as the greatest warrior and as one who could control the time of his death—has accepted death in Dakṣiṇāyana. The question sets up an explanation of Bhīṣma’s choice and the significance of seasonal/solar timing in his passing.