Vaishampayana said Approaching Bhishma venerable in years viz., Bhishma, who was then lying on his bed of arrows, the highly wise Yudhishthira put the following questions.
वैशम्पायन उवाच शरतल्पगतं भीष्मं वृद्धं कुरुपितामहम्। उपगम्य महाप्राज्ञः पर्यपृच्छद् युधिष्ठिरः॥