She then said, "O Kavi, (learned man), the sons derive their birth from both the father and the mother. There is no doubt that their proprietors are both the father and the mother. You are my eldest son according to the ordinances. O Brahmarshi, Vichitravirya was my youngest son. As he was the brother of Bhishma by father's side, so you are by the mother's side. This is my opinion, I do not know what is your opinion, I do not know what is your opinion. This Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, who is devoted to truth, does not, for the sake of truth, wish to beget children or to rule the kingdom.
मातापित्रोः प्रजायन्ते पुत्राः साधारणाः कवे॥ तेषां पिता यथा स्वामी तथा माता न संशयः। विधानविहितः सत्यं यथा मे प्रथमः सुतः॥ विचित्रवीर्यो ब्रह्मर्षे तथा मेऽवरजः सुतः। यथैव पितृतो भीष्मस्तथा त्वमपि मातृतः॥ भ्राता विचित्रवीर्यस्य यथा वा पुत्र मन्यसे। अयं शान्तनवः सत्यं पालयन् सत्यविक्रमः॥ बुद्धिं न कुरुतेऽपत्ये तथा राज्यानुशासने। स त्वं व्यपेक्षया भ्रातुः संतानाय कुलस्य च॥