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Core and Pancharatra: Bhishma says Yudhishthira should only ask the questions directly, and then he will answer. Accordingly, Yudhishthira comes forward and takes his blessings.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
अथाब्रवीन्महातेजा वाक्यं कौरवनन्दनः। हन्त धर्मान्प्रवक्ष्यामि दृढे वाङ्मनसी मम ॥ तव प्रसादाद्गोविन्द भूतात्मा ह्यसि शाश्वतः ॥१२-५५-१॥
Then the illustrious Kaurava prince spoke: "Now, I shall declare the dharmas with firm resolve in speech and mind. By your grace, O Govinda, you are truly the eternal soul of all beings."
युधिष्ठिरस्तु मां राजा धर्मान्समनुपृच्छतु। एवं प्रीतो भविष्यामि धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि चानघ ॥१२-५५-२॥
But let king Yudhishthira ask me about the dharmas; then, being pleased, I shall explain the dharmas, O sinless one.
यस्मिन्राजर्षभे जाते धर्मात्मनि महात्मनि। अहृष्यन्नृषयः सर्वे स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-३॥
O Pāṇḍava, ask me about that royal bull, the great and righteous-souled one, in whom, when he was born, all the sages did not rejoice.
सर्वेषां दीप्तयशसां कुरूणां धर्मचारिणाम्। यस्य नास्ति समः कश्चित्स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-४॥
Among all the illustrious and righteous Kurus, if there is anyone who has no equal, let that person question me, O Pāṇḍava.
धृतिर्दमो ब्रह्मचर्यं क्षमा धर्मश्च नित्यदा। यस्मिन्नोजश्च तेजश्च स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-५॥
O Pāṇḍava, ask me about that person in whom steadfastness, self-control, celibacy, forbearance, righteousness, and always vital energy and brilliance are found.
सत्यं दानं तपः शौचं शान्तिर्दाक्ष्यमसम्भ्रमः। यस्मिन्नेतानि सर्वाणि स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-६॥
O Pāṇḍava, he in whom all these—truth, charity, austerity, purity, peace, dexterity, and absence of confusion—are found, let him ask me.
यो न कामान्न संरम्भान्न भयान्नार्थकारणात्। कुर्यादधर्मं धर्मात्मा स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-७॥
O Pāṇḍava, he who would not commit unrighteousness from desire, anger, fear, or motive of gain, and whose nature is righteousness, let him question me.
सम्बन्धिनोऽतिथीन्भृत्यान्संश्रितोपाश्रितांश्च यः। संमानयति सत्कृत्य स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-८॥
O Pāṇḍava, let him who honors relatives, guests, servants, those who have sought refuge, and dependents with due respect, ask me (his question).
सत्यनित्यः क्षमानित्यो ज्ञाननित्योऽतिथिप्रियः। यो ददाति सतां नित्यं स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-९॥
O Pāṇḍava, let him who is always truthful, always forbearing, always wise, fond of guests, and who always gives to the good, ask me.
इज्याध्ययननित्यश्च धर्मे च निरतः सदा। शान्तः श्रुतरहस्यश्च स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥१२-५५-१०॥
He who is always engaged in sacrifice and study, always devoted to dharma, peaceful, and a knower of secret teachings—O Pāṇḍava, let him ask me.
वासुदेव उवाच॥
Vāsudeva said.
लज्जया परयोपेतो धर्मात्मा स युधिष्ठिरः। अभिशापभयाद्भीतो भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥१२-५५-११॥
Yudhishthira, who is righteous and deeply ashamed, fearing a curse, does not come near you.
लोकस्य कदनं कृत्वा लोकनाथो विशां पते। अभिशापभयाद्भीतो भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥१२-५५-१२॥
O lord of the people, having destroyed the world, the lord of the world, out of fear of a curse, does not come near you.
पूज्यान्मान्यांश्च भक्तांश्च गुरून्सम्बन्धिबान्धवान्। अर्घ्यार्हानिषुभिर्हत्वा भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥१२-५५-१३॥
He who has slain with arrows those worthy of worship, honor, devotion, teachers, related kinsmen, and those worthy of offerings, does not approach you.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
ब्राह्मणानां यथा धर्मो दानमध्ययनं तपः। क्षत्रियाणां तथा कृष्ण समरे देहपातनम् ॥१२-५५-१४॥
Just as duty, charity, study, and austerity are for the Brāhmaṇas, so for the Kṣatriyas, O Kṛṣṇa, is the falling of the body in battle (death in battle).
पितॄन्पितामहान्पुत्रान्गुरून्सम्बन्धिबान्धवान्। मिथ्याप्रवृत्तान्यः सङ्ख्ये निहन्याद्धर्म एव सः ॥१२-५५-१५॥
He who, in battle, slays fathers, grandfathers, sons, teachers, relatives, and kinsmen who are wrongly engaged, is truly acting in accordance with righteousness.
समयत्यागिनो लुब्धान्गुरूनपि च केशव। निहन्ति समरे पापान्क्षत्रियो यः स धर्मवित् ॥१२-५५-१६॥
O Keśava, that kṣatriya who, in battle, kills even the greedy, those who abandon duty, and teachers who are wicked, he is a knower of dharma.
आहूतेन रणे नित्यं योद्धव्यं क्षत्रबन्धुना। धर्म्यं स्वर्ग्यं च लोक्यं च युद्धं हि मनुरब्रवीत् ॥१२-५५-१७॥
Manu said: "A kṣatriya, when called to battle, must always fight; such battle is righteous, leads to heaven, and is worthy in the world."
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्तस्तु भीष्मेण धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। विनीतवदुपागम्य तस्थौ संदर्शनेऽग्रतः ॥१२-५५-१८॥
Thus addressed by Bhīṣma, Yudhiṣṭhira, the king of dharma, approached with humility and stood in front of him to be seen.
अथास्य पादौ जग्राह भीष्मश्चाभिननन्द तम्। मूर्ध्नि चैनमुपाघ्राय निषीदेत्यब्रवीत्तदा ॥१२-५५-१९॥
Then Bhishma grasped his feet and welcomed him; having smelled his head, he said, "Sit down."
तमुवाचाथ गाङ्गेय ऋषभः सर्वधन्विनाम्। पृच्छ मां तात विस्रब्धं मा भैस्त्वं कुरुसत्तम ॥१२-५५-२०॥
Then the son of Gaṅgā, the foremost among all bowmen, said to him: "Ask me anything, dear one, without hesitation; do not be afraid, O best of the Kurus."
