The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook
“Bhishma said, ’Thus addressed, Janamejaya replied unto the
sage, saying, ’Thou rebukest one that deserves to be rebuked. 
Thou censurest one that is deserving of censure.  Thou
upbraidest me and my acts.  I implore thee to be graceful
towards me.  All my acts have been sinful.  I burn, however,
with repentance as if I am in the midst of blazing fire!  My
mind, in remembrance of my deeds, is exceedingly cheerless. 
Verily, I am much afraid of Yama.  How can I bear to live
without extracting that dart from my heart?  O Saunaka,
suppressing all thy wrath, instruct me now.  Formerly I used to
show regard for Brahmanas.  I solemnly declare that I shall once
more show the same regard for thee.  Let not my line be
extinct.  Let not the race in which I am born sink into the
dust.  It is not proper that they who have wronged Brahmanas and
have for that, in consequence of the injunctions of the Vedas,
forfeited all claim to the respect of the world and to