Shloka 24
Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
जनार्दन! आपके निरन्तर चिन्तनसे मेरी शक्ति इतनी बढ़ गयी है कि मैं जवान-सा हो गया हूँ। आपके प्रसादसे अब मैं कल्याणकारी उपदेश देनेमें समर्थ हूँ ।।
janārdana! tava nirantara-cintanena mama śaktir evaṁ vardhitā yathāhaṁ yuvā iva jātaḥ. tava prasādena idānīṁ kalyāṇakara-upadeśa-dāne samartho 'smi. svayaṁ kimarthaṁ tu bhavān śreyo na prāha pāṇḍavam? kiṁ te vivakṣitaṁ cātra tad āśu vada, mādhava.
毗湿摩说道：“哦，阇那尔达那，由于我不断观念于你，我的力量增长到仿佛重返青春。承你恩泽，我如今能够给予导向福祉的劝诫。然而我想知道：为何你不亲自向般度之子（尤狄湿提罗）直说那真正有益之道？哦，摩陀婆，请速告我你在此事上的意旨。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true instruction (śreyas) is best delivered under divine sanction and proper role: Bhīṣma attributes his renewed capacity to teach to Kṛṣṇa’s grace, and asks why Kṛṣṇa chooses to have Bhīṣma serve as the instructor—underscoring humility, devotion, and the ethics of authoritative counsel.
In Śānti Parva, after the war, Yudhiṣṭhira seeks guidance on dharma and governance. Bhīṣma, lying on the bed of arrows, prepares to instruct him. Here Bhīṣma addresses Kṛṣṇa, saying that meditation on him has restored his vigor and asking why Kṛṣṇa does not personally give Yudhiṣṭhira the beneficial teaching, requesting Kṛṣṇa’s intention.