SVS5

When there was a conflict between devas and asuras, with asuras gaining, devas were told that they could crush the asuras if they used a weapon made of the back bone of the great sage Dadeechi. So, Indra, chief of devas approached the sage and prayed for his backbone. Knowing well that conceding to this request would end his life, the sage agreed as it was for a noble cause benefiting the world. The devas won the war. The pond here is named after that great sage and is aclled Dadeechi theertham. Our commentators say that more than the Lord, it is His name which renders help for the needy and cite the example of Draupati, when her modesty was under trial in the court of Duryodana. The Lord is like a lump of gold [gold biscuits], while His name is like an ornament of Gold. Though both are gold and have the same value, it is the ornament which is sought after and useful to decorate in many ways. When Yudhishtra and others stood before Bheeshma, their grand father, in repentance for all happenings in the war, Bheeshma consoled them and offered advise on good conduct as human being, as a king and as an ordinary person. Finally, Yudhishtra asks six questions and in answer SVS is born. Yudhishtra asks:

1. Kimekam daivatam loke = which is that one entity which is supreme and regarded as God?
2. Kimvapekam paraayanam = which is the single final destination for us?
3. Sthuvantam kam = who is to be praised?
   
4. Kamarchanda prapnuyur manavasubham = who is to be worshiped to attain welfare?
   
5. Ko dharma sarva dharmanam bhavata paramo matha = though you [Bheeshma] have preached so many dharma, which is the one you follow and regard as supreme dharma ?
6. Kim japan muchyate jantu janma samsara bhandanath = by chanting which or whom, every living being gets liberated from this samsaram [worldly life]?
   

Yudhishtra requested answers for his questions.