Shloka 55
Adhyāya 55 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Hesitation and Bhīṣma’s Authorization of Inquiry
Rājadharma Prelude
तत्पश्चात् सम्पूर्ण धनुर्धरोंमें श्रेष्ठ गड़ानन्दन भीष्मजीने उनसे कहा--“तात! मैं इस समय स्वस्थ हूँ, तुम मुझसे निर्भय होकर प्रश्न करो। कुरुश्रेष्ठी तुम भय न मानो” ।।
tataḥ paścāt sampūrṇa-dhanurdharāṇāṃ śreṣṭho gaṅgā-nandano bhīṣmaḥ tān uvāca— “tāta! ahaṃ etasmin kāle svasthaḥ asmi; tvaṃ mattaḥ nirbhayaḥ praśnaṃ pṛccha. kuruśreṣṭha! mā bhaiḥ.”
其后，毗湿摩——恒河之子，亦为诸善射者之最——对他们说道：“孩子，此刻我身安无恙。你尽可无惧地问我。哦，俱卢族中最优秀者，莫要害怕。”在《寂静篇》的伦理语境中，这一段表明毗湿摩已准备好向尤迪希提罗开示王法与正法治国，并以无畏发问作为学习达摩的根基。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharmic learning requires fearless, sincere inquiry: Bhishma explicitly invites Yudhishthira to ask without hesitation, establishing that guidance on rajadharma is best received through open questioning and trust in the teacher.
After the preceding events, Bhishma—still capable of teaching—assures Yudhishthira that he is well and urges him not to fear, signaling the continuation of Bhishma’s extended instruction on royal duty in the Shanti Parva.