Hearing these words of the intelligent son of Madri, the virtuous Bhishma, that perfect master of the science of the bow, lying upon his bed of arrows, answered in many refined words of great significance, of sweet cadence, and showing considerable skill, to the great Nakula, that discipline of Drona of skilful training.
वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा माद्रीपुत्रस्य धीमतः। स तु कौशल संयुक्तं सूक्ष्मचित्रार्थसम्मतम्॥ ततस्तस्योत्तरं वाक्यं स्वरवर्णोपपादितम्। शिक्षया चोपपन्नाय द्रोणशिष्याय भारत॥ उवाच स तु धर्मज्ञो धनुर्वेदस्य पारगः। शरतल्पगतो भीष्मो नकुलाय महात्मने॥