Bhishma Invites Yudhishthira to Question Him

Verse 1 (12.54.1)

अथाब्रवीन्महातेजा वाक्यं कौरवनन्दनः । हन्त धर्मान्प्रवक्ष्यामि दृढे वाङ्मनसी मम ॥

athābravīnmahātejā vākyaṃ kauravanandanaḥ | hanta dharmānpravakṣyāmi dṛḍhe vāṅmanasī mama

Vaishampayana said: Then the greatly radiant joy of the Kurus said: Come, I shall set forth the duties of dharma; my speech and my mind are firm.

Note on the text: Corrected अथाव्रवीन् → अथाब्रवीन् (misprint in Wikisource; व्र for ब्र, CE athābravīn) and वाङ्भनसी → वाङ्मनसी (misprint; भ for म, CE vāṅmanasī). CE 12.55.1: line 1 = 1a (narration; the page's heading वैशंपायन), line 2 = 1c; the second line is already Bhishma's speech, kept whole under the narrator. CE has a third line here (1e), which Wikisource prints as the first line of the next verse.

Verse 2 (12.54.2)

तव प्रसादाद्गोविन्द भूतात्मा ह्यसि शाश्वतः । युधिष्ठिरस्तु धर्मात्मा मां धर्माननुपृच्छतु । एवं प्रीतो भविष्यामि धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि चाखिलान् ॥

tava prasādādgovinda bhūtātmā hyasi śāśvataḥ | yudhiṣṭhirastu dharmātmā māṃ dharmānanupṛcchatu | evaṃ prīto bhaviṣyāmi dharmānvakṣyāmi cākhilān

By your grace, Govinda, for you are the eternal Self of all beings: let Yudhishthira, righteous in soul, question me on the dharmas. Then I shall be pleased, and I shall declare all the duties.

Note on the text: Three-line verse as on the page. Line 1 = CE 12.55.1e (the CE's third line of its verse 1; the ce_ref names the CE verse holding it); lines 2-3 = CE 12.55.2a,c. Wikisource युधिष्ठिरस्तु धर्मात्मा मां धर्माननुपृच्छतु against CE yudhiṣṭhiras tu māṃ rājā dharmān samanupṛcchatu, and चाखिलान् against cānagha, are variants and kept. Bhishma speaks from here (page heading still reads Vaishampayana).

Verse 3 (12.54.3)

यस्मिन्राजर्षभे जाते धर्मात्मनि महात्मनि । अहृष्यन्नृषयः सर्वे स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥

yasminrājarṣabhe jāte dharmātmani mahātmani | ahṛṣyannṛṣayaḥ sarve sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ

He at whose birth, a righteous and great-souled royal sage, all the sages rejoiced: let that Pandava question me.

Note on the text: Bhishma's speech (no heading printed).

Verse 4 (12.54.4)

सर्वेषां दीप्तयशसां कुरूणां धर्मचारिणाम् । यस्य नास्ति समः कश्चित्स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥

sarveṣāṃ dīptayaśasāṃ kurūṇāṃ dharmacāriṇām | yasya nāsti samaḥ kaścitsa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ

Among all the Kurus of blazing fame who follow dharma, he who has no equal: let that Pandava question me.

Verse 5 (12.54.5)

धृतिर्दमो ब्रह्मचर्यं क्षमा धर्मश्च नित्यदा । यस्मिन्नोजश्च तेजश्च स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥

dhṛtirdamo brahmacaryaṃ kṣamā dharmaśca nityadā | yasminnojaśca tejaśca sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ

Steadiness, self-control, chastity, patience and dharma are always his, and vigor and radiance dwell in him: let that Pandava question me.

Verse 6 (12.54.6)

संबन्धिनोऽतिथीन्भृत्यान्संश्रितांश्चैव यो भृशम् । संमानयति सत्कृत्य स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥

saṃbandhino'tithīnbhṛtyānsaṃśritāṃścaiva yo bhṛśam | saṃmānayati satkṛtya sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ

He who honors his relatives, guests, servants and dependents warmly and with respect: let that Pandava question me.

Note on the text: Order as on the page: this is CE 12.55.8, printed here before CE 55.6-7. Wikisource संश्रितांश्चैव यो भृशम् against CE saṃśritopāśritāṃś ca yaḥ is a variant and kept. Removed a stray zero-width joiner inside पाण्डवः.

Verse 7 (12.54.7)

सत्यं दानं तपः शौर्यं शान्तिर्दाक्ष्यमसंभ्रमः । यस्मिन्नेतानि सर्वाणि स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥

satyaṃ dānaṃ tapaḥ śauryaṃ śāntirdākṣyamasaṃbhramaḥ | yasminnetāni sarvāṇi sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ

Truth, giving, austerity, valor, peace, skill and freedom from agitation, he in whom all these are found: let that Pandava question me.

Verse 8 (12.54.8)

यो न कामान्न संरम्भान्न भयान्नार्थकारणात् । कुर्यादधर्मं धर्मात्मा स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥

yo na kāmānna saṃrambhānna bhayānnārthakāraṇāt | kuryādadharmaṃ dharmātmā sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ

He who, righteous in soul, would never do wrong from desire, from anger, from fear or for gain: let that Pandava question me.

Verse 9 (12.54.9)

सत्यनित्यः क्षमानित्यो ज्ञाननित्योऽतिथिप्रियः । यो ददाति सतां नित्यं स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥

satyanityaḥ kṣamānityo jñānanityo'tithipriyaḥ | yo dadāti satāṃ nityaṃ sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ

Ever true, ever forbearing, ever devoted to knowledge, fond of guests, who always gives to the good: let that Pandava question me.

Verse 10 (12.54.10)

इज्याध्ययननित्यश्च धर्मे च निरतः सदा । क्षान्तः श्रुतरहस्यश्च स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥

ijyādhyayananityaśca dharme ca nirataḥ sadā | kṣāntaḥ śrutarahasyaśca sa māṃ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ

Constant in sacrifice and study, ever devoted to dharma, patient and learned in the secrets of the sacred texts: let that Pandava question me.

Verse 11 (12.54.11)

लज्जया परयोपेतो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । अभिशापभयाद्भीतो भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥

lajjayā parayopeto dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | abhiśāpabhayādbhīto bhavantaṃ nopasarpati

Vasudeva said: Yudhishthira, king of dharma, is filled with great shame; afraid of reproach, he does not come near you.

Verse 12 (12.54.12)

लोकस्य कदनं कृत्वा लोकनाथो विशांपते । अभिशापभयाद्भीतो भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥

lokasya kadanaṃ kṛtvā lokanātho viśāṃpate | abhiśāpabhayādbhīto bhavantaṃ nopasarpati

Having brought destruction on the world, though he is lord of the world, O lord of men, he is afraid of reproach and does not come near you.

Verse 13 (12.54.13)

पूज्यान्मान्यांश्च भक्तांश्च गुरून्संबन्धिबान्धवान् । अर्घार्हानिषुभिर्भित्त्वा भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥

pūjyānmānyāṃśca bhaktāṃśca gurūnsaṃbandhibāndhavān | arghārhāniṣubhirbhittvā bhavantaṃ nopasarpati

Having pierced with arrows those worthy of honor and reverence, devoted ones, elders, kinsmen and relatives, who deserved to be welcomed with offerings, he does not come near you.

Verse 14 (12.54.14)

ब्राह्मणानां यथा धर्मो दानमध्ययनं तपः । क्षत्रियाणां तथा कृष्ण समरे देहपातनम् ॥

brāhmaṇānāṃ yathā dharmo dānamadhyayanaṃ tapaḥ | kṣatriyāṇāṃ tathā kṛṣṇa samare dehapātanam

Bhishma said: As for brahmins dharma is giving, study and austerity, so for kshatriyas, Krishna, it is the laying down of the body in battle.

Verse 15 (12.54.15)

पितॄन्पितामहान्भ्रातॄन्गुरून्संबन्धिबान्धवान् । मिथ्याप्रवृत्तान्यः सख्ये निहन्याद्धर्म एव सः ॥

pitṝnpitāmahānbhrātṝngurūnsaṃbandhibāndhavān | mithyāpravṛttānyaḥ sakhye nihanyāddharma eva saḥ

Fathers, grandfathers, brothers, teachers, kinsmen and relatives: if one kills in battle those who have turned to falsehood, that is dharma itself.

Verse 16 (12.54.16)

समयत्यागिनो लुब्धान्गुरूनपि च केशव । निहन्ति समरे पापान्क्षत्रियो यः स धर्मवित् ॥

samayatyāgino lubdhāngurūnapi ca keśava | nihanti samare pāpānkṣatriyo yaḥ sa dharmavit

A kshatriya who kills in battle the sinful who break their agreements, the greedy, and even teachers, Keshava, knows dharma.

Verse 17 (12.54.17)

यो लोभान्न समीक्षेत धर्मसेतुं सनातनम् । निहन्ति यस्तं समरे क्षत्रियो वै स धर्मवित् ॥

yo lobhānna samīkṣeta dharmasetuṃ sanātanam | nihanti yastaṃ samare kṣatriyo vai sa dharmavit

A kshatriya who in battle kills the man who from greed does not respect the eternal bridge of dharma is truly one who knows dharma.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text: these lines are the CE star passage 12.55.16d*0121_01-02 (yo lobhān na samīkṣeta dharmasetuṃ sanātanam / nihanti yas taṃ samare kṣatriyo vai sa dharmavit), printed in its apparatus after 55.16; the ce_ref names the CE verse it follows.

Verse 18 (12.54.18)

लोहितोदां केशतृणां गजशैलां ध्वजद्रुमाम् । महीं करोति युद्धेषु क्षत्रियो यः स धर्मवित् ॥

lohitodāṃ keśatṛṇāṃ gajaśailāṃ dhvajadrumām | mahīṃ karoti yuddheṣu kṣatriyo yaḥ sa dharmavit

A kshatriya who turns the earth in his wars into a land whose waters are blood, whose grass is hair, whose hills are elephants and whose trees are banners, knows dharma.

Note on the text: The CE star passage 12.55.16d*0121_03-04 (lohitodāṃ keśatṛṇāṃ gajaśailāṃ dhvajadrumām / mahīṃ karoti yuddheṣu kṣatriyo yaḥ sa dharmavit), printed in the apparatus after 55.16; the ce_ref names the CE verse it follows.

Verse 19 (12.54.19)

आहूतेन रणे नित्यं योद्धव्यं क्षत्रबन्धुना । धर्म्यं स्वर्ग्यं च लोक्यं च युद्धं हि मनुरब्रवीत् ॥

āhūtena raṇe nityaṃ yoddhavyaṃ kṣatrabandhunā | dharmyaṃ svargyaṃ ca lokyaṃ ca yuddhaṃ hi manurabravīt

A kshatriya, when summoned to battle, must always fight; Manu declared war to be righteous, a path to heaven and a winner of the worlds.

Verse 20 (12.54.20)

एवमुक्तस्तु भीष्मेण धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । विनीतवदुपागम्य तस्थौ संदर्शनेऽग्रतः ॥

evamuktastu bhīṣmeṇa dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | vinītavadupāgamya tasthau saṃdarśane'grataḥ

Vaishampayana said: Thus addressed by Bhishma, Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, approached humbly and stood before him, in his sight.

Note on the text: Corrected तस्थै → तस्थौ (misprint in Wikisource; the verb is तस्थौ, CE tasthau).

Verse 21 (12.54.21)

अथास्य पादौ जग्राह भीष्मश्चापि ननन्द तम् । मूर्ध्नि चैनमुपाघ्राय निषीदेत्यब्रवीत्तदा ॥

athāsya pādau jagrāha bhīṣmaścāpi nananda tam | mūrdhni cainamupāghrāya niṣīdetyabravīttadā

Then he clasped Bhishma's feet, and Bhishma rejoiced in him; kissing his head, he said at that moment: Sit down.

Note on the text: Corrected मूर्ध्निं → मूर्ध्नि (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara, CE mūrdhni).

Verse 22 (12.54.22)

तमुवाचाथ गाङ्गेयो वृषभः सर्वधन्विनाम् । मां पृच्छ तात विस्रब्धं मा भैस्त्वं कुरुसत्तम ॥

tamuvācātha gāṅgeyo vṛṣabhaḥ sarvadhanvinām | māṃ pṛccha tāta visrabdhaṃ mā bhaistvaṃ kurusattama

Then Gangeya, bull among all archers, said to him: Ask me, dear child, without fear; do not be afraid, best of the Kurus.

Note on the text: Line 1 is narration and line 2 is Bhishma's speech; the verse is kept whole under the narrator.