> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 1
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > ******

> > Canto 1: 'Creation'

> > ******

> > Chapter Nine: The Passing Away of Bhîshmadeva in the Presence of Lord Krishna

> > TEXT 1

> > sûta uvâca

> > iti bhîtah prajâ-drohât

> > sarva-dharma-vivitsayâ

> > tato vinas'anam prâgâd

> > yatra deva-vrato 'patat

> > sûtah uvâca--S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said; iti--thus; bhîtah--being afraid of; praja-drohât--because of killing the subjects; sarva--all; dharma--acts of religion; vivitsayâ--for understanding; tatah--thereafter; vinâs'anam--the place where the fight was held; prâgât--he went; yatra--where; deva-vratah--Bhîshmadeva; apatat--lay down for passing away.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sûta Gosvâmî said: Being afraid for having killed so many subjects on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, Mahârâja Yudhishthhira went to the scene of the massacre. There, Bhîshmadeva was lying on a bed of arrows, about to pass away.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > tadâ te bhrâtarah sarve

> > sadas'vaih svarna-bhûshitaih

> > anvagacchan rathair viprâ

> > vyâsa-dhaumyâdayas tathâ

> > tadâ--at that time; te--all of them; bhrâtarah--the brothers; sarve--all together; sat-as'vaih--drawn by first-class horses; svarna--gold; bhûshitaih--being decorated with; anvagacchan--followed one after another; rathaih--on the chariots; viprâh--O brâhmanas; vyâsa--the sage Vyâsa; dhaumya--Dhaumya; âdayah--and others; tathâ--also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At that time all his brothers followed him on beautiful chariots drawn by first-class horses decorated with gold ornaments. With them were Vyâsa and rishis like Dhaumya [the learned priest of the Pândavas] and others.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > bhagavân api viprarshe

> > rathena sa-dhanan'jayah

> > sa tair vyarocata nripah

> > kuvera iva guhyakaih

> > bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead (S'rî Krishna); api--also; vipra-rishe--O sage among the brâhmanas; rathena--on the chariot; sa-dhanan'jayah--with Dhanan'jaya (Arjuna); sah--He; taih--by them; vyarocata--appeared to be highly aristocratic; nripah--the King (Yudhishthhira); kuvera--Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods; iva--as; guhyakaih--companions known as Guhyakas.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O sage amongst the brâhmanas, Lord S'rî Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, also followed, seated on a chariot with Arjuna. Thus King Yudhishthhira appeared very aristocratic, like Kuvera surrounded by his companions [the Guhyakas].

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > drishthvâ nipatitam bhûmau

> > divas' cyutam ivâmaram

> > pranemuh pândavâ bhîshmam

> > sânugâh saha cakrinâ

> > drishthvâ--thus seeing; nipatitam--lying down; bhûmau--on the ground; divah--from the sky; cyutam--fallen; iva--like; amaram--demigod; pranemuh--bowed down; pândavah--the sons of Pându; bhîshmam--unto Bhîshma; sa-anugâh--with the younger brothers; saha--also with; cakrinâ--the Lord (carrying the disc).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing him [Bhîshma] lying on the ground, like a demigod fallen from the sky, the Pândava King Yudhishthhira, along with his younger brothers and Lord Krishna, bowed down before him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > tatra brahmarshayah sarve

> > devarshayas' ca sattama

> > râjarshayas' ca tatrâsan

> > drashthum bharata-pungavam

> > tatra--there; brahma-rishayah--rishis among the brâhmanas; sarve--all; deva-rishayah--rishis among the demigods; ca--and; sattama--situated in the quality of goodness; râja-rishayah-- rishis among the kings; ca--and; tatra--in that place; âsan--were present; drashthum--just to see; bharata--the descendants of King Bharata; pungavam--the chief of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Just to see the chief of the descendants of King Bharata [Bhîshma], all the great souls in the universe, namely the rishis amongst the demigods, brâhmanas and kings, all situated in the quality of goodness, were assembled there.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6-7

> > parvato nârado dhaumyo

> > bhagavân bâdarâyanah

> > brihadas'vo bharadvâjah

> > sas'ishyo renukâ-sutah

> > vasishthha indrapramadas

> > trito gritsamado 'sitah

> > kakshîvân gautamo 'tris' ca

> > kaus'iko 'tha sudars'anah

> > parvatah--Parvata Muni; nâradah--Nârada Muni; dhaumyah--Dhaumya; bhagavân--incarnation of Godhead; bâdarâyanah--Vyâsadeva; brihadas'vah--Brihadas'va; bharadvâjah--Bharadvâja; sa-s'ishyah--along with disciples; renukâ-sutah--Paras'urâma; vasishthhah--Vasishthha; indrapramadah--Indrapramada; tritah--Trita; gritsamadah--Gritsamada; asitah--Asita; kakshîvân--Kakshîvân; gautamah--Gautama; atrih--Atri; ca--and; kaus'ikah--Kaus'ika; atha--as well as; sudars'anah--Sudars'ana.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All the sages like Parvata Muni, Nârada, Dhaumya, Vyâsa the incarnation of God, Brihadas'va, Bharadvâja and Paras'urâma and disciples, Vasishthha, Indrapramada, Trita, Gritsamada, Asita, Kakshîvân, Gautama, Atri, Kaus'ika and Sudars'ana were present.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > anye ca munayo brahman

> > brahmarâtâdayo 'malâh

> > s'ishyair upetâ âjagmuh

> > kas'yapângirasâdayah

> > anye--many others; ca--also; munayah--sages; brahman--o brâhmanas; brahmarâta--S'ukadeva Gosvâmî; âdayah--and such others; amalâh--completely purified; s'ishyaih--by the disciples; upetâh--accompanied; âjagmuh--arrived; kas'yapa--Kas'yapa; ângirasa--Ângirasa; âdayah--others.

> > TRANSLATION

> > And many others like S'ukadeva Gosvâmî and other purified souls, Kas'yapa and Ângirasa and others, all accompanied by their respective disciples, arrived there.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > tân sametân mahâ-bhâgân

> > upalabhya vasûttamah

> > pûjayâm âsa dharma-jn'o

> > des'a-kâla-vibhâgavit

> > tân--all of them; sametân--assembled together; mahâ-bhâgân--all greatly powerful; upalabhya--having received; vasu-uttamah--the best among the Vasus (Bhîshmadeva); pûjayâm âsa--welcomed; dharma-jn'ah--one who knows religious principles; des'a--place; kâla--time; vibhâga-vit--one who knows the adjustment of place and time.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bhîshmadeva, who was the best amongst the eight Vâsus, received and welcomed all the great and powerful rishis who were assembled there, for he knew perfectly all the religious principles according to time and place.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > krishnam ca tat-prabhâva-jn'a

> > âsînam jagad-îs'varam

> > hridi-stham pûjayâm âsa

> > mâyayopâtta-vigraham

> > krishnam--unto Lord S'rî Krishna; ca--also; tat--of Him; prabhâva-jn'ah--the knower of the glories (Bhîshma); âsînam--sitting; jagat-îs'varam--the Lord of the universe; hridi-stham--situated in the heart; pûjayâm âsa--worshiped; mâyayâ--by internal potency; upâtta--manifested; vigraham--a form.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord S'rî Krishna is situated in everyone's heart, yet He manifests His transcendental form by His internal potency. This very Lord was sitting before Bhîshmadeva, and since Bhîshmadeva knew of His glories, he worshiped Him duly.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > pându-putrân upâsînân

> > pras'raya-prema-sangatân

> > abhyâcashthânurâgâs'rair

> > andhîbhûtena cakshushâ

> > pându--the late father of Mahârâja Yudhishthhira and his brothers; putran--the sons of; upâsînân--sitting silently nearby; pras'raya--being overtaken; prema--in feelings of love; sangatân--having gathered; abhyâcashtha--congratulated; anurâga--feelingly; as'raih--by tears of ecstasy; andhîbhûtena--overwhelmed; cakshushâ--with his eyes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sons of Mahârâja Pându were sitting silently nearby, overtaken with affection for their dying grandfather. Seeing this, Bhîshmadeva congratulated them with feeling. There were tears of ecstasy in his eyes, for he was overwhelmed by love and affection.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > aho kashtham aho 'nyâyyam

> > yad yûyam dharma-nandanâh

> > jîvitum nârhatha klishtham

> > vipra-dharmâcyutâs'rayâh

> > aho--oh; kashtham--what terrible sufferings; aho--oh; anyâyyam--what terrible injustice; yat--because; yûyam--all of you good souls; dharma-nandanâh--sons of religion personified; jîvitum--to remain alive; na--never; arhatha--deserve; klishtham--suffering; vipra--brâhmanas; dharma--piety; acyuta--God; âs'rayâh--being protected by.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bhîshmadeva said: Oh, what terrible sufferings and what terrible injustices you good souls suffer for being the sons of religion personified. You did not deserve to remain alive under those tribulations, yet you were protected by the brâhmanas, God and religion.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > samsthite 'tirathe pândau

> > prithâ bâla-prajâ vadhûh

> > yushmat-krite bahûn kles'ân

> > prâptâ tokavatî muhuh

> > samsthite--after the demise; ati-rathe--of the great general; pândau--Pându; prithâ--Kuntî; bâla-prajâ--having young children; vadhûh--my daughter-in-law; yushmat-krite--on your account; bahûn--multifarious; kles'ân--afflictions; prâptâ--underwent; toka-vatî--in spite of having grown-up boys; muhuh--constantly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As far as my daughter-in-law Kuntî is concerned, upon the great General Pându's death, she became a widow with many children, and therefore she suffered greatly. And when you were grown up she suffered a great deal also because of your actions.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > sarvam kâla-kritam manye

> > bhavatâm ca yad-apriyam

> > sapâlo yad-vas'e loko

> > vâyor iva ghanâvalih

> > sarvam--all this; kâla-kritam--done by inevitable time; manye--I think; bhavatâm ca--for you also; yat--whatever; apriyam--detestable; sa-pâlah--with the rulers; yat-vas'e--under the control of that time; lokah--everyone in every planet; vayoh--the wind carries; iva--as; ghana-âvalih--a line of clouds.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In my opinion, this is all due to inevitable time, under whose control everyone in every planet is carried, just as the clouds are carried by the wind.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > yatra dharma-suto râjâ

> > gadâ-pânir vrikodarah

> > krishno 'strî gândivam câpam

> > suhrit krishnas tato vipat

> > yatra--where there is; dharma-sutah--the son of Dharmarâja; râja--the King; gadâ-pânih--with his mighty club in hand; vrikodarah--Bhîma; krishnah--Arjuna; astrî--carrier of the weapon; gândivam--Gândîva; câpam--bow; suhrit--well-wisher; krishnah--Lord Krishna, the Personality of Godhead; tatah--thereof; vipat--reverse.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O how wonderful is the influence of inevitable time. It is irreversible--otherwise, how can there be reverses in the presence of King Yudhishthhira, the son of the demigod controlling religion; Bhîma, the great fighter with a club; the great bowman Arjuna with his mighty weapon Gândiva; and above all, the Lord, the direct well-wisher of the Pândavas?

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > na hy asya karhicid râjan

> > pumân veda vidhitsitam

> > yad vijijn'âsayâ yuktâ

> > muhyanti kavayo 'pi hi

> > na--never; hi--certainly; asya--His; karhicit--whatsoever; râjan--O King; pumân--anyone; veda--knows; vidhitsitam--plan; yat--which; vijijn'âsayâ--with exhaustive inquiries; yuktâh--being engaged; muhyanti--bewildered; kavayah--great philosophers; api--even; hi--certainly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, no one can know the plan of the Lord [S'rî Krishna]. Even though great philosophers inquire exhaustively, they are bewildered.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > tasmâd idam daiva-tantram

> > vyavasya bharatarshabha

> > tasyânuvihito 'nâthâ

> > nâtha pâhi prajâh prabho

> > tasmât--therefore; idam--this; daiva-tantram--enchantment of providence only; vyavasya--ascertaining; bharata-risabha--O best among the descendants of Bharata; tasya--by Him; anuvihitah--as desired; anâthâh--helpless; nâtha--O master; pâhi--just take care of; prajâh--of the subjects; prabho--O Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O best among the descendants of Bharata [Yudhishthhira], I maintain, therefore, that all this is within the plan of the Lord. Accepting the inconceivable plan of the Lord, you must follow it. You are now the appointed administrative head, and, my lord, you should now take care of those subjects who are now rendered helpless.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > esha vai bhagavân sâkshâd

> > âdyo nârâyanah pumân

> > mohayan mâyayâ lokam

> > gûdhas' carati vrishnishu

> > eshah--this; vai--positively; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; sâkshât--original; âdyah--the first; nârâyanah--the Supreme Lord (who lies down on the water); pumân--the supreme enjoyer; mohayan--bewildering; mâyayâ--by His self-created energy; lokam--the planets; gdhah--who is inconceivable; carati--moves; vrishnishu--among the Vrishni family.

> > TRANSLATION

> > This S'rî Krishna is no other than the inconceivable, original Personality of Godhead. He is the first Nârâyana, the supreme enjoyer. But He is moving amongst the descendants of King Vrishni just like one of us and He is bewildering us with His self-created energy.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > asyânubhâvam bhagavân

> > veda guhyatamam s'ivah

> > devarshir nâradah sâkshâd

> > bhagavân kapilo nripa

> > asya--of Him; anubhâvam--glories; bhagavân--the most powerful; veda--knows; guhya-tamam--very confidentially; s'ivah--Lord S'iva; deva-rishih--the great sage among the demigods; nâradah--Nârada; sâkshât--directly; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; kapilah--Kapila; nripa--O King.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, Lord S'iva, Nârada the sage amongst the demigods, and Kapila, the incarnation of Godhead, all know very confidentially about His glories through direct contact.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > yam manyase mâtuleyam

> > priyam mitram suhrittamam

> > akaroh sacivam dûtam

> > sauhridâd atha sârathim

> > yam--the person; manyase--you think; mâtuleyam--maternal cousin; priyam--very dear; mitram--friend; suhrit-tamam--ardent well-wisher; akaroh--executed; sacivam--counsel;dûtam--messenger; sauhridât--by good will; atha--thereupon; sârathim--charioteer.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, that personality whom, out of ignorance only, you thought to be your maternal cousin, your very dear friend, well-wisher, counselor, messenger, benefactor, etc., is that very Personality of Godhead, S'rî Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > sarvâtmanah sama-dris'o

> > hy advayasyânahankriteh

> > tat-kritam mati vaishamyam

> > niravadyasya na kvacit

> > sarva-âtmanah--of one who is present in everyone's heart; sama-dris'ah--of one who is equally kind to one and all; hi--certainly; advayasya--of the Absolute; anahankriteh--free from all material identity of false ego; tat-kritam--everything done by Him; mati--consciousness; vaishamyam--differentiation; niravadyasya--freed from all attachment; na--never; kvacit--at any stage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Being the Absolute Personality of Godhead, He is present in everyone's heart. He is equally kind to everyone, and He is free from the false ego of differentiation. Therefore whatever He does is free from material inebriety. He is equibalanced.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > tathâpy ekânta-bhakteshu

> > pas'ya bhûpânukampitam

> > yan me 'sûms tyajatah sâkshât

> > krishno dars'anam âgatah

> > tathâpi--still; ekânta--unflinching; bhakteshu--unto the devotees; pas'ya--see here; bhû-pa--O King; anukampitam--how sympathetic; yat--for which; me--my; asûn--life; tyajatah--ending; sâkshât--directly; krishnah--the Personality of Godhead; dars'anam--in my view; agatah--has kindly come.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Yet, despite His being equally kind to everyone, He has graciously come before me while I am ending my life, for I am His unflinching servitor.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > bhaktyâves'ya mano yasmin

> > vâcâ yan-nâma kîrtayan

> > tyajan kalevaram yogî

> > mucyate kâma-karmabhih

> > bhaktyâ--with devout attention; âves'ya--meditating; manah--mind; yasmin--in whose; vâcâ--by words; yat--Krishna; nâma--holy name; kîrtayan--by chanting; tyajan--quitting; kalevaram--this material body; yogî--the devotee; mucyate--gets release; kâma-karmabhih--from fruitive activities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Personality of Godhead, who appears in the mind of the devotee by attentive devotion and meditation and by chanting of the holy name, releases the devotee from the bondage of fruitive activities at the time of his quitting the material body.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > sa deva-devo bhagavân pratîkshatâm

> > kalevaram yâvad idam hinomy aham

> > prasanna-hâsâruna-locanollasan-

> > mukhâmbujo dhyâna-pathas' catur-bhujah

> > sah--He; deva-devah--the Supreme Lord of the lords; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; pratîksatâm--may kindly wait; kalevaram--body; yâvat--as long as; idam--this (material body); hinomi--may quit; aham--I; prasanna--cheerful; hâsa--smiling; aruna-locana--eyes red like the morning sun; ullasat--beautifully decorated; mukha-ambujah--the lotus flower of His face; dhyâna-pathah--in the path of my meditation; catur-bhujah--the four-handed form of Nârâyana (the worshipable Deity of Bhîshmadeva).

> > TRANSLATION

> > May my Lord, who is four-handed and whose beautifully decorated lotus face, with eyes as red as the rising sun, is smiling, kindly await me at that moment when I quit this material body.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > sûta uvâca

> > yudhishthhiras tad âkarnya

> > s'ayânam s'ara-pan'jare

> > apricchad vividhân dharmân

> > rishînâm cânus'rinvatâm

> > sûtah uvâca--S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said; yudhishthhirah--King Yudhishthhira; tat--that; âkarnya--hearing; s'ayânam--lying down; s'ara-pan'jare--on the bed of arrows; apricchat--asked; vividhân--multifarious; dharmân--duties; rishînâm--of the rishis; ca--and; anus'rinvatâm--hearing after.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sûta Gosvâmî said: Mahârâja Yudhishthhira, after hearing Bhîshmadeva speak in that appealing tone, asked him, in the presence of all the great rishis, about the essential principles of various religious duties.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > purusha-sva-bhâva-vihitân

> > yathâ-varnam yathâs'ramam

> > vairâgya-râgopâdhibhyâm

> > âmnâtobhaya-lakshanân

> > purusha--the human being; sva-bhâva--by his own acquired qualities; vihitân--prescribed; yathâ--according to; varnam--classification of castes; yathâ--according to; âs'ramam--orders of life; vairâgya--detachment; râga--attachment; upâdhibhyâm--out of such designations; âmnâta--systematically; ubhaya--both; lakshanân--symptoms.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At Mahârâja Yudhishthhira's inquiry, Bhîshmadeva first defined all the classifications of castes and orders of life in terms of the individual's qualifications. Then he systematically, in twofold divisions, described counteraction by detachment and interaction by attachment.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > dâna-dharmân râja-dharmân

> > moksha-dharmân vibhâgas'ah

> > strî-dharmân bhagavad-dharmân

> > samâsa-vyâsa-yogatah

> > dâna-dharmân--the acts of charity; râja-dharmân--pragmatic activities of the kings; moksa-dharmân--the acts for salvation; vibhâgas'ah--by divisions; strî-dharmân--duties of women; bhagavat-dharmân--the acts of the devotees; samâsa--generally; vyâsa--explicitly; yogatah--by means of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He then explained, by divisions, acts of charity, the pragmatic activities of a king and activities for salvation. Then he described the duties of women and devotees, both briefly and extensively.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > dharmârtha-kâma-mokshâms' ca

> > sahopâyân yathâ mune

> > nânâkhyânetihâseshu

> > varnayâm âsa tattvavit

> > dharma--occupational duties; artha--economic development; kâma--fulfillment of desires; mokshân--ultimate salvation; ca--and; saha--along with; upâyân--means; yathâ--as it is; mune--O sage; nânâ--various; âkhyâna--by recitation of historical narrations; itihâseshu--in the histories; varnayâm âsa--described; tatta-vit--one who knows the truth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then he described the occupational duties of different orders and statuses of life, citing instances from history, for he was himself well acquainted with the truth.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > dharmam pravadatas tasya

> > sa kâlah pratyupasthitah

> > yo yoginas' chanda-mrityor

> > vân'chitas tûttarâyanah

> > dharmam--occupational duties; pravadatah--while describing; tasya--his; sah--that; kâlah--time; pratyupasthitah--exactly appeared; yah--that is; yoginah--for the mystics; chanda-mrityoh--of one who dies according to one's own selection of time; vân'chitah--is desired by; tu--but; uttarâyanah--the period when the sun runs on the northern horizon.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While Bhîshmadeva was describing occupational duties, the sun's course ran into the northern hemisphere. This period is desired by mystics who die at their will.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > tadopasamhritya girah sahasranîr

> > vimukta-sangam mana âdi-pûrushe

> > krishne lasat-pîta-pathe catur-bhuje

> > purah sthite 'mîlita-drig vyadhârayat

> > tadâ--at that time; upasamhritya--withdrawing; girah--speech; sahasranîh--Bhîshmadeva (who was expert in thousands of sciences and arts); vimukta-sangam--completely freed from everything else; manah--mind; âdi-pûrushe--unto the original Personality of Godhead; krishne--unto Krishna; lasat-pîta-pate--decorated with yellow garments; catur-bhuje--unto the four-handed original Nârâyana; purah--just before; sthite--standing; amîlita--widespread; drik--vision; vyadhârayat--fixed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereupon that man who spoke on different subjects with thousands of meanings and who fought on thousands of battlefields and protected thousands of men, stopped speaking and, being completely freed from all bondage, withdrew his mind from everything else and fixed his wide-open eyes upon the original Personality of Godhead, S'rî Krishna, who stood before him, four-handed, dressed in yellow garments that glittered and shined.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > vis'uddhayâ dhâranayâ hatâs'ubhas

> > tad-îkshayaivâs'u gatâ-yudha-s'ramah

> > nivritta-sarvendriya-vritti-vibhramas

> > tushthâva janyam visrijan' janârdanam

> > vis'uddhayâ--by purified; dhâranayâ--meditation; hata-as'ubhah--one who has minimized the inauspicious qualities of material existence; tat--Him; îkshayâ--by looking on; eva--simply; âs'u--immediately; gatâ--having gone away; yudha--from the arrows; s'ramah--fatigue; nivritta--being stopped; sarva--all; indriya--senses; vritti--activities; vibhramah--being widely engaged; tushthâva--he prayed; janyam--the material tabernacle; visrijan--while quitting; janârdanam--to the controller of the living beings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By pure meditation, looking at Lord S'rî Krishna, he at once was freed from all material inauspiciousness and was relieved of all bodily pains caused by the arrow wounds. Thus all the external activities of his senses at once stopped, and he prayed transcendentally to the controller of all living beings while quitting his material body.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > s'rî-bhîshma uvâca

> > iti matir upakalpitâ vitrishnâ

> > bhagavati sâtvata-pungave vibhûmni

> > sva-sukham upagate kvacid vihartum

> > prakritim upeyushi yad-bhava-pravâhah

> > s'rî-bhîshmah uvâca--S'rî Bhîshmadeva said; iti--thus; matih--thinking, feeling and willing; upakalpitâ--invested; vitrishnâ--freed from all sense desires; bhagavati--unto the Personality of Godhead; sâtvata-pungave--unto the leader of the devotees; vibhûmni--unto the great; sva-sukham--self-satisfaction; upagate--unto He who has attained it; kvacit--sometimes; vihartum--out of transcendental pleasure; prakritim--in the material world; upeyusi--do accept it; yat-bhava--from whom the creation; pravâhah--is made and annihilated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Bhîshmadeva said: Let me now invest my thinking, feeling and willing, which were so long engaged in different subjects and occupational duties, in the all-powerful Lord S'rî Krishna. He is always self-satisfied, but sometimes, being the leader of the devotees, He enjoys transcendental pleasure by descending on the material world, although from Him only the material world is created.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > tri-bhuvana-kamanam tamâla-varnam

> > ravi-kara-gaura-vara-ambaram dadhâne

> > vapur alaka-kulâvritânanâbjam

> > vijaya-sakhe ratir astu me 'navadyâ

> > tri-bhuvana--three statuses of planetary systems; kamanam--the most desirable; tamâla-varnam--bluish like the tamâla tree; ravi-kara--sun rays; gaura--golden color; varâmbaram--glittering dress; dadhâne--one who wears; vapuh--body; alaka-kula-âvrta--covered with paintings of sandalwood pulp; anana-abjam--face like a lotus; vijaya-sakhe--unto the friend of Arjuna; ratih astu--may attraction be reposed upon Him; me--my; anavadyâ--without desire for fruitive results.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rî Krishna is the intimate friend of Arjuna. He has appeared on this earth in His transcendental body, which resembles the bluish color of the tamâla tree. His body attracts everyone in the three planetary systems [upper, middle and lower]. May His glittering yellow dress and His lotus face, covered with paintings of sandalwood pulp, be the object of my attraction, and may I not desire fruitive results.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > yudhi turaga-rajo-vidhûmra-vishvak-

> > kaca-lulita-s'ramavâry-alankritâsye

> > mama nis'ita-s'arair vibhidyamâna-

> > tvaci vilasat-kavace 'stu krishna âtmâ

> > yudhi--on the battlefield; turaga--horses; rajah--dust; vidhûmra--turned an ashen color; vishvak--waving; kaca--hair; lulita--scattered; s'ramavâri--perspiration; alankrita--decorated with; âsye--unto the face; mama--my; nis'ita--sharp; s'araih--by the arrows; vibhidyamâna--pierced by; tvaci--in the skin; vilasat--enjoying pleasure; kavace--protecting armor; astu--let there be; krishne--unto S'rî Krishna; âtmâ--mind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > On the battlefield [where S'rî Krishna attended Arjuna out of friendship], the flowing hair of Lord Krishna turned ashen due to the dust raised by the hoofs of the horses. And because of His labor, beads of sweat wetted His face. All these decorations, intensified by the wounds dealt by my sharp arrows, were enjoyed by Him. Let my mind thus go unto S'rî Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > sapadi sakhi-vaco nis'amya madhye

> > nija-parayor balayo ratham nives'ya

> > sthitavati para-sainikâyur akshnâ

> > hritavati pârtha-sakhe ratir mamâstu

> > sapadi--on the battlefield; sakhi-vacah--command of the friend; nis'amya--after hearing; madhye--in the midst; nija--His own; parayoh--and the opposite party; balayoh--strength; ratham--chariot; nives'ya--having entered; sthitavati--while staying there; para-sainika--of the soldiers on the opposite side; âyuh--duration of life; akshnâ--by looking over; hritavati--act of diminishing; pârtha--of Arjuna, son of Prithâ (Kuntî); sakhe--unto the friend; ratih--intimate relation; mama--my; astu--let there be.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In obedience to the command of His friend, Lord S'rî Krishna entered the arena of the Battlefield of Kuruksetra between the soldiers of Arjuna and Duryodhana, and while there He shortened the life spans of the opposite party by His merciful glance. This was done simply by His looking at the enemy. Let my mind be fixed upon that Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > vyavahita-pritanâ-mukham nirîkshya

> > sva-jana-vadhâd vimukhasya dosa-buddhyâ

> > kumatim aharad âtma-vidyayâ yas'

> > carana-ratih paramasya tasya me 'stu

> > vyavahita--standing at a distance; pritanâ--soldiers; mukham--faces; nirîkshya--by looking upon; sva-jana--kinsmen; vadhât--from the act of killing; vimukhasya--one who is reluctant; dosa-buddhyâ--by polluted intelligence; kumatim--poor fund of knowledge; aharat--eradicated; âtma-vidyayâ--by transcendental knowledge; yah--He who; carana--to the feet; ratih--attraction; paramasya--of the Supreme; tasya--for Him; me--my; astu--let there be.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Arjuna was seemingly polluted by ignorance upon observing the soldiers and commanders before him on the battlefield, the Lord eradicated his ignorance by delivering transcendental knowledge. May His lotus feet always remain the object of my attraction.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > sva-nigamam apahâya mat-pratijn'âm

> > ritam adhikartum avapluto rathasthah

> > dhrita-ratha-carano 'bhyayâc caladgur

> > harir iva hantum ibham gatottarîyah

> > sva-nigamam--own truthfulness; apahâya--for nullifying; mat-pratijn'âm--my own promise; ritam--factual; adhi--more; kartum--for doing it; avaplutah--getting down; ratha-sthah--from the chariot; dhrita--taking up; ratha--chariot; caranah--wheel; abhyayât--went hurriedly; caladguh--trampling the earth; harih--lion; iva--like; hantum--to kill; ibham--elephant; gata--leaving aside; uttarîyah--covering cloth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Fulfilling my desire and sacrificing His own promise, He got down from the chariot, took up its wheel, and ran towards me hurriedly, just as a lion goes to kill an elephant. He even dropped His outer garment on the way.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > s'ita-vis'ikha-hato vis'îrna-dams'ah

> > kshataja-paripluta âtatâyino me

> > prasabham abhisasâra mad-vadhârtham

> > sa bhavatu me bhagavân gatir mukundah

> > s'ita--sharp; vis'ikha--arrows; hatah--wounded by; vis'îrna-dams'ah--scattered shield; kshataja--by wounds; pariplutah--smeared with blood; âtatâyinah--the great aggressor; me--my; prasabham--in an angry mood; abhisasâra--began to move on; mat-vadha-artham--for the purpose of killing me; sah--He; bhavatu--may become; me--my; bhagavân--the Personality of Godhead; gatih--destination; mukundah--who awards salvation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > May He, Lord S'rî Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who awards salvation, be my ultimate destination. On the battlefield He charged me, as if angry because of the wounds dealt by my sharp arrows. His shield was scattered, and His body was smeared with blood due to the wounds.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > vijaya-ratha-kuthumbha âtta-totre

> > dhrita-haya-ras'mini tac-chriyekshanîye

> > bhagavati ratir astu me mumûrshor

> > yam iha nirîkshya hatâ gatâh sva-rûpam

> > vijaya--Arjuna; ratha--chariot; kuthumbe--the object of protection at all risk; âtta-totre--with a whip in the right hand; dhrita-haya--controlling the horses; ras'mini--ropes; tat-s'riyâ--beautifully standing; îkshanîye--to look at; bhagavati--unto the Personality of Godhead; ratih astu--let my attraction be; mumûrshoh--one who is about to die; yam--upon whom; iha--in this world; nirîkshya--by looking; hatâh--those who died; gatâh--attained; sva-rûpam--original form.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At the moment of death, let my ultimate attraction be to S'rî Krishna, the Personality of Godhead. I concentrate my mind upon the chariot driver of Arjuna who stood with a whip in His right hand and a bridle rope in His left, who was very careful to give protection to Arjuna's chariot by all means. Those who saw Him on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra attained their original forms after death.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > lalita-gati-vilâsa-valguhâsa-

> > pranaya-nirîkshana-kalpitorumânâh

> > krita-manu-krita-vatya unmadândhâh

> > prakritim agan kila yasya gopa-vadhvah

> > lalita--attractive; gati--movements; vilâsa--fascinating acts; valguhâsa--sweet smiling; pranaya--loving; nirîkshana--looking upon; kalpita--mentality; urumânâh--highly glorified; krita-manu-krita-vatyah--in the act of copying the movements; unmada-andhâh--gone mad in ecstasy; prakritim--characteristics; agan--underwent; kila--certainly; yasya--whose; gopa-vadhvah--the cowherd damsels.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Let my mind be fixed upon Lord S'rî Krishna, whose motions and smiles of love attracted the damsels of Vrajadhâma [the gopîs]. The damsels imitated the characteristic movements of the Lord [after His disappearance from the râsa dance].

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > muni-gana-nripa-varya-sankule 'ntah-

> > sadasi yudhishthhira-râjasûya eshâm

> > arhanam upapeda îkshanîyo

> > mama dris'i-gocara esha âvir âtmâ

> > muni-gana--the great learned sages; nripa-varya--the great ruling kings; sankule--in the great assembly of; antah-sadasi--conference; yudhishthhira--of Emperor Yudhishthhira; râja-sûye--a royal performance of sacrifice; eshâm--of all the great elites; arhanam--respectful worship; upapeda--received; îkshanîyah--the object of attraction; mama--my; drishi--sight; gocarah--within the view of; eshah âvih--personally present; âtmâ--the soul.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At the Râjasûya-yajn'a [sacrifice] performed by Mahârâja Yudhishthhira, there was the greatest assembly of all the elite men of the world, the royal and learned orders, and in that great assembly Lord S'rî Krishna was worshiped by one and all as the most exalted Personality of Godhead. This happened during my presence, and I remembered the incident in order to keep my mind upon the Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > tam imam aham ajam s'arîra-bhâjâm

> > hridi hridi dhishthhitam âtma-kalpitânâm

> > pratidris'am iva naikadhârkam ekam

> > samadhi-gato 'smi vidhûta-bheda-mohah

> > tam--that Personality of Godhead; imam--now present before me; aham--I; ajam--the unborn; s'arîra-bhâjâm--of the conditioned soul; hridi--in the heart; hridi--in the heart; dhishthhitam--situated; âtma--the Supersoul; kalpitânâm--of the speculators; pratidris'am--in every direction; iva--like; na ekadhâ--not one; arkam--the sun; ekam--one only; samadhi-gatah asmi--I have undergone trance in meditation; vidhûta--being freed from; bheda-mohah--misconception of duality.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Now I can meditate with full concentration upon that one Lord, S'rî Krishna, now present before me because now I have transcended the misconceptions of duality in regard to His presence in everyone's heart, even in the hearts of the mental speculators. He is in everyone's heart. The sun may be perceived differently, but the sun is one.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > sûta uvâca

> > krishna evam bhagavati

> > mano-vâg-drishthi-vrittibhih

> > âtmany âtmânam âves'ya

> > so 'ntahs'vâsa upâramat

> > sûtah uvâca--Sûta Gosvâmî said; krishne--Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; evam--only; bhagavati--unto Him; manah--with mind; vâk--speech; drishthi--sight; vrittibhih--activities; âtmani--unto the Supersoul; âtmânam--the living being; âves'ya--having merged in; sah--he; antah-s'vâsah--inhaling; upâramat--became silent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sûta Gosvâmî said: Thus Bhîshmadeva merged himself in the Supersoul, Lord S'rî Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with his mind, speech, sight and actions, and thus he became silent, and his breathing stopped.

> > TEXT 44

> > sampadyamânam âjn'âya

> > bhîshmam brahmani nishkale

> > sarve babhûvus te tûshnîm

> > vayâmsîva dinâtyaye

> > sampadyamânam--having merged into; âjn'âya--after knowing this; bhîsmam--about S'rî Bhîshmadeva; brahmani--into the Supreme Absolute; nishkale--unlimited; sarve--all present; babhûvuh te--all of them became; tûshnîm--silent; vayâmsi iva--like birds; dina-atyaye--at the end of the day.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Knowing that Bhîshmadeva had merged into the unlimited eternity of the Supreme Absolute, all present there became silent like birds at the end of the day.

> > ******

> > TEXT 45

> > tatra dundubhayo nedur

> > deva-mânava-vâditâh

> > s'as'amsuh sâdhavo râjn'âm

> > khât petuh pushpa-vrishthayah

> > tatra--thereafter; dundubhayah--drums; neduh--were sounded; deva--the demigods from other planets; mânava--men from all countries; vâditâh--beaten by; s'as'amsuh--praised; sâdhavah--honest; râjn'âm--by the royal order; khât--from the sky; petuh--began to fall; pushpa-vrishthayah--showers of flowers.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, both men and demigods sounded drums in honor, and the honest royal order commenced demonstrations of honor and respect. And from the sky fell showers of flowers.

> > ******

> > TEXT 46

> > tasya nirharanâdîni

> > samparetasya bhârgava

> > yudhishthhirah kârayitvâ

> > muhûrtam duhkhito 'bhavat

> > tasya--his; nirharana-âdîni--funeral ceremony; samparetasya--of the dead body; bhârgava--O descendant of Bhrigu; yudhishthhirah--Mahârâja Yudhishthhira; kârayitvâ--having performed it; muhûrtam--for a moment; duhkhitah--sorry; abhavat--became.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O descendant of Bhrigu [S'aunaka], after performing funeral rituals for the dead body of Bhîshmadeva, Mahârâja Yudhishthhira was momentarily overtaken with grief.

> > ******

> > TEXT 47

> > tushthuvur munayo hrishtâh

> > krishnam tad-guhya-nâmabhih

> > tatas te krishna-hridayâh

> > svâs'ramân prayayuh punah

> > tushthuvuh--satisfied; munayah--the great sages, headed by Vyâsadeva, etc.; hrishthâh--all in a happy mood; krishnam--unto Lord Krishna, the Personality of Godhead; tat--His; guhya--confidential; nâmabhih--by His holy name, etc.; tatah--thereafter; te--they; krishna-hridayâh--persons who always bear Lord Krishna in their hearts; sva-âs'ramân--to their respective hermitages; prayayuh--returned; punah--again.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All the great sages then glorified Lord S'rî Krishna, who was present there, by confidential Vedic hymns. Then all of them returned to their respective hermitages, bearing always Lord Krishna within their hearts.

> > ******

> > TEXT 48

> > tato yudhishthhiro gatvâ

> > saha-krishno gajâhvayam

> > pitaram sântvayâm âsa

> > gândhârîm ca tapasvinîm

> > tatah--thereafter; yudhishthhirah--Mahârâja Yudhishthhira; gatvâ--going there; saha--with; krishnah--the Lord; gajâhvayam--in the capital named Gajâhvaya Hastinâpura; pitaram--unto his uncle (Dhritarâshthra); sântvayâm âsa--consoled; gândhârîm--the wife of Dhritarâshthra; ca--and; tapasvinîm--an ascetic lady.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, Mahârâja Yudhishthhira at once went to his capital, Hastinâpura, accompanied by Lord S'rî Krishna, and there he consoled his uncle and aunt Gândhârî, who was an ascetic.

> > ******

> > TEXT 49

> > pitrâ cânumato râjâ

> > vâsudevânumoditah

> > cakâra râjyam dharmena

> > pitri-paitâmaham vibhuh

> > pitrâ--by his uncle, Dhritarâshthra; ca--and; anumatah--with his approval; râjâ--King Yudhishthhira; vâsudeva-anumoditah--confirmed by Lord S'rî Krishna; cakâra--executed; râjyam--the kingdom; dharmena--in compliance with the codes of royal principles; pitri--father; paitâmaham--forefather; vibhuh--as great as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After this, the great religious King, Mahârâja Yudhishtthira, executed the royal power in the kingdom strictly according to the codes and royal principles approved by his uncle and confirmed by Lord S'rî Krishna.

> > ******

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