12.050
Pancharatra: Krishna praises Bhishma for his knowledge and ask him to dispel the doubts of King Yudhishthira.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततो रामस्य तत्कर्म श्रुत्वा राजा युधिष्ठिरः। विस्मयं परमं गत्वा प्रत्युवाच जनार्दनम् ॥१२-५०-१॥
Then, when King Yudhiṣṭhira heard of that deed of Rāma, he was greatly astonished and spoke to Janārdana.
अहो रामस्य वार्ष्णेय शक्रस्येव महात्मनः। विक्रमो येन वसुधा क्रोधान्निःक्षत्रिया कृता ॥१२-५०-२॥
O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, indeed, such is the valour of the great-souled Rāma, like that of Śakra, by whom, out of anger, the earth was made devoid of kṣatriyas.
गोभिः समुद्रेण तथा गोलाङ्गूलर्क्षवानरैः। गुप्ता रामभयोद्विग्नाः क्षत्रियाणां कुलोद्वहाः ॥१२-५०-३॥
The best among the kṣatriya families, disturbed by fear of Rāma, were protected by cows, the ocean, and also by monkeys, bears, and langurs.
अहो धन्यो हि लोकोऽयं सभाग्याश्च नरा भुवि। यत्र कर्मेदृशं धर्म्यं द्विजेन कृतमच्युत ॥१२-५०-४॥
O Acyuta, indeed this world is blessed, and the men on earth are fortunate, where such a righteous act is performed by a Brāhmaṇa.
तथा यान्तौ तदा तात तावच्युतयुधिष्ठिरौ। जग्मतुर्यत्र गाङ्गेयः शरतल्पगतः प्रभुः ॥१२-५०-५॥
Thus, O dear one, at that time, Acyuta and Yudhiṣṭhira both went to where Bhīṣma, the son of Gaṅgā, the lord, was lying on his bed of arrows.
ततस्ते ददृशुर्भीष्मं शरप्रस्तरशायिनम्। स्वरश्मिजालसंवीतं सायंसूर्यमिवानलम् ॥१२-५०-६॥
Then they saw Bhishma lying on a bed of arrows, covered in a net of rays, resembling the evening sun or a blazing fire.
उपास्यमानं मुनिभिर्देवैरिव शतक्रतुम्। देशे परमधर्मिष्ठे नदीमोघवतीमनु ॥१२-५०-७॥
In the supremely righteous land along the river Amoghavatī, he was worshipped by sages and gods as Indra is worshipped.
दूरादेव तमालोक्य कृष्णो राजा च धर्मराट्। चत्वारः पाण्डवाश्चैव ते च शारद्वतादयः ॥१२-५०-८॥
Seeing him from afar, Kṛṣṇa, the king, Dharmarāja, the four Pāṇḍavas, and Śāradvat and the others were present.
अवस्कन्द्याथ वाहेभ्यः संयम्य प्रचलं मनः। एकीकृत्येन्द्रियग्राममुपतस्थुर्महामुनीन् ॥१२-५०-९॥
Then, having alighted from their vehicles, restraining their restless minds and uniting their senses, they approached the great sages.
अभिवाद्य च गोविन्दः सात्यकिस्ते च कौरवाः। व्यासादींस्तानृषीन्पश्चाद्गाङ्गेयमुपतस्थिरे ॥१२-५०-१०॥
After offering salutations, Govinda, Sātyaki, and the Kauravas, along with Vyāsa and the other sages, then approached Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma).
तपोवृद्धिं ततः पृष्ट्वा गाङ्गेयं यदुकौरवाः। परिवार्य ततः सर्वे निषेदुः पुरुषर्षभाः ॥१२-५०-११॥
After inquiring about the growth of asceticism, the Yadus and Kauravas, having surrounded Bhishma, the son of Ganga, all those foremost among men then sat down.
ततो निशम्य गाङ्गेयं शाम्यमानमिवानलम्। किञ्चिद्दीनमना भीष्ममिति होवाच केशवः ॥१२-५०-१२॥
Then, seeing Bhishma, the son of Ganga, being subdued like a dying fire and somewhat dejected in mind, Keshava spoke these words.
कच्चिज्ज्ञानानि ते राजन्प्रसन्नानि यथा पुरा। कच्चिदव्याकुला चैव बुद्धिस्ते वदतां वर ॥१२-५०-१३॥
O king, are your knowledges as clear as before? And is your intellect truly undisturbed, O best of speakers?
शराभिघातदुःखात्ते कच्चिद्गात्रं न दूयते। मानसादपि दुःखाद्धि शारीरं बलवत्तरम् ॥१२-५०-१४॥
Is your body not afflicted by the pain of being struck by arrows? For indeed, bodily pain is stronger than mental pain.
वरदानात्पितुः कामं छन्दमृत्युरसि प्रभो। शन्तनोर्धर्मशीलस्य न त्वेतच्छमकारणम् ॥१२-५०-१५॥
Because of your father's boon, you truly have the power to die at will, O lord; but for Śantanu, who is righteous, this is not a reason for you to be appeased.
सुसूक्ष्मोऽपीह देहे वै शल्यो जनयते रुजम्। किं पुनः शरसङ्घातैश्चितस्य तव भारत ॥१२-५०-१६॥
Even a very fine thorn in the body causes pain; how much more so will masses of arrows in your body, O Bhārata?
कामं नैतत्तवाख्येयं प्राणिनां प्रभवाप्ययौ। भवान्ह्युपदिशेच्छ्रेयो देवानामपि भारत ॥१२-५०-१७॥
Truly, this is not to be revealed to you—the origin and dissolution of living beings. You, O Bhārata, are worthy to instruct even the gods in the highest good.
यद्धि भूतं भविष्यच्च भवच्च पुरुषर्षभ। सर्वं तज्ज्ञानवृद्धस्य तव पाणाविवाहितम् ॥१२-५०-१८॥
O best of men, all that is past, future, and present is, for one grown in knowledge, as if placed in your hand.
संसारश्चैव भूतानां धर्मस्य च फलोदयः। विदितस्ते महाप्राज्ञ त्वं हि ब्रह्ममयो निधिः ॥१२-५०-१९॥
O greatly wise one, the cycle of existence and the results of dharma for all beings are known to you; you truly are a treasure of Brahman.
त्वां हि राज्ये स्थितं स्फीते समग्राङ्गमरोगिणम्। स्त्रीसहस्रैः परिवृतं पश्यामीहोर्ध्वरेतसम् ॥१२-५०-२०॥
I see you here, established in a prosperous kingdom, healthy in every limb, surrounded by thousands of women, yet remaining celibate.
ऋते शान्तनवाद्भीष्मात्त्रिषु लोकेषु पार्थिव। सत्यसन्धान्महावीर्याच्छूराद्धर्मैकतत्परात् ॥१२-५०-२१॥
O king, in all the three worlds, except for Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, who is truthful, of great prowess, heroic, and solely devoted to dharma, there is no one else like him.
मृत्युमावार्य तरसा शरप्रस्तरशायिनः। निसर्गप्रभवं किञ्चिन्न च तातानुशुश्रुम ॥१२-५०-२२॥
We have not heard from father anything natural about those who, by force, have warded off death and lie on a bed of arrows.
सत्ये तपसि दाने च यज्ञाधिकरणे तथा। धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च नित्यं चैवान्ववेक्षणे ॥१२-५०-२३॥
One should always examine carefully in matters of truth, austerity, charity, sacrifice, the science of archery, and the Veda.
अनृशंसं शुचिं दान्तं सर्वभूतहिते रतम्। महारथं त्वत्सदृशं न कञ्चिदनुशुश्रुम ॥१२-५०-२४॥
We have never heard of anyone like you, who is not cruel, pure, self-controlled, engaged in the welfare of all beings, and a great chariot-warrior.
त्वं हि देवान्सगन्धर्वान्ससुरासुरराक्षसान्। शक्त एकरथेनैव विजेतुं नात्र संशयः ॥१२-५०-२५॥
There is no doubt that you are capable of conquering the gods, Gandharvas, Suras, Asuras, and Rākṣasas with a single chariot.
त्वं हि भीष्म महाबाहो वसूनां वासवोपमः। नित्यं विप्रैः समाख्यातो नवमोऽनवमो गुणैः ॥१२-५०-२६॥
O Bhishma, you, mighty-armed, are indeed among the Vasus, equal to Indra; always proclaimed by the Brāhmaṇas as the ninth, and not inferior in qualities.
अहं हि त्वाभिजानामि यस्त्वं पुरुषसत्तम। त्रिदशेष्वपि विख्यातः स्वशक्त्या सुमहाबलः ॥१२-५०-२७॥
I truly know you, the best among men; you are famed even among the gods for your own immense power and great strength.
मनुष्येषु मनुष्येन्द्र न दृष्टो न च मे श्रुतः। भवतो यो गुणैस्तुल्यः पृथिव्यां पुरुषः क्वचित् ॥१२-५०-२८॥
O best of men, among all men, I have neither seen nor heard of any man anywhere on earth who is equal to you in qualities.
त्वं हि सर्वैर्गुणै राजन्देवानप्यतिरिच्यसे। तपसा हि भवाञ्शक्तः स्रष्टुं लोकांश्चराचरान् ॥१२-५०-२९॥
O king, you truly surpass even the gods in all qualities. By your austerity, you are capable of creating all the worlds, both moving and unmoving.
तदस्य तप्यमानस्य ज्ञातीनां सङ्क्षयेण वै। ज्येष्ठस्य पाण्डुपुत्रस्य शोकं भीष्म व्यपानुद ॥१२-५०-३०॥
Bhīṣma dispelled the grief of the eldest son of Pāṇḍu, who was tormented by the destruction of his kinsmen.
ये हि धर्माः समाख्याताश्चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य भारत। चातुराश्रम्यसंसृष्टास्ते सर्वे विदितास्तव ॥१२-५०-३१॥
O Bhārata, all those dharmas that have been well-declared for the four varṇas and combined with the four āśramas are known to you.
चातुर्वेद्ये च ये प्रोक्ताश्चातुर्होत्रे च भारत। साङ्ख्ये योगे च नियता ये च धर्माः सनातनाः ॥१२-५०-३२॥
O Bhārata, those eternal dharmas which are declared in the four Vedas, in the four sacrificial fires, in Sāṅkhya, and in Yoga, and which are established.
चातुर्वर्ण्येन यश्चैको धर्मो न स्म विरुध्यते। सेव्यमानः स चैवाद्यो गाङ्गेय विदितस्तव ॥१२-५०-३३॥
O Gāṅgeya, that one dharma which is not opposed to the fourfold order, being observed, is known to you today.
इतिहासपुराणं च कार्त्स्न्येन विदितं तव। धर्मशास्त्रं च सकलं नित्यं मनसि ते स्थितम् ॥१२-५०-३४॥
You are thoroughly acquainted with history and the Purāṇas, and the entire Dharmaśāstra is always present in your mind.
ये च केचन लोकेऽस्मिन्नर्थाः संशयकारकाः। तेषां छेत्ता नास्ति लोके त्वदन्यः पुरुषर्षभ ॥१२-५०-३५॥
O bull among men, in this world, whatever matters cause doubt, there is no one other than you who can remove them.
स पाण्डवेयस्य मनःसमुत्थितं; नरेन्द्र शोकं व्यपकर्ष मेधया। भवद्विधा ह्युत्तमबुद्धिविस्तरा; विमुह्यमानस्य जनस्य शान्तये ॥१२-५०-३६॥
O king, dispel the sorrow that has arisen in the mind of the son of Pāṇḍu by your wisdom. For those like you, endowed with great intellect and breadth, bring peace to those who are deluded. ॥12-50-36॥
