Bhishma said I shall tell you what you ask me. In fact, I shall tell you what the reason is for which one becomes short lived, and what the reason is for which one becomes longlived.
भीष्म उवाच अत्र तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि यन्मां त्वमनुपृच्छसि। अल्पायुर्येन भवति दीर्घायुर्वाऽपि मानवः॥