12.050
Pancharatra: Krishna praises Bhishma for his knowledge and ask him to dispel the doubts of King Yudhishthira.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Then, when King Yudhiṣṭhira heard of that deed of Rāma, he was greatly astonished and spoke to Janārdana.
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.
The best among the kṣatriya families, disturbed by fear of Rāma, were protected by cows, the ocean, and also by monkeys, bears, and langurs.
O Acyuta, indeed this world is blessed, and the men on earth are fortunate, where such a righteous act is performed by a Brāhmaṇa.
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.
Then they saw Bhishma lying on a bed of arrows, covered in a net of rays, resembling the evening sun or a blazing fire.
In the supremely righteous land along the river Amoghavatī, he was worshipped by sages and gods as Indra is worshipped.
Seeing him from afar, Kṛṣṇa, the king, Dharmarāja, the four Pāṇḍavas, and Śāradvat and the others were present.
Then, having alighted from their vehicles, restraining their restless minds and uniting their senses, they approached the great sages.
After offering salutations, Govinda, Sātyaki, and the Kauravas, along with Vyāsa and the other sages, then approached Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma).
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.
Then, seeing Bhishma, the son of Ganga, being subdued like a dying fire and somewhat dejected in mind, Keshava spoke these words.
O king, are your knowledges as clear as before? And is your intellect truly undisturbed, O best of speakers?
Is your body not afflicted by the pain of being struck by arrows? For indeed, bodily pain is stronger than mental pain.
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.
Even a very fine thorn in the body causes pain; how much more so will masses of arrows in your body, O Bhārata?
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.
O best of men, all that is past, future, and present is, for one grown in knowledge, as if placed in your hand.
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.
I see you here, established in a prosperous kingdom, healthy in every limb, surrounded by thousands of women, yet remaining celibate.
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.
We have not heard from father anything natural about those who, by force, have warded off death and lie on a bed of arrows.
One should always examine carefully in matters of truth, austerity, charity, sacrifice, the science of archery, and the Veda.
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.
There is no doubt that you are capable of conquering the gods, Gandharvas, Suras, Asuras, and Rākṣasas with a single chariot.
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.
I truly know you, the best among men; you are famed even among the gods for your own immense power and great strength.
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.
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.
Bhīṣma dispelled the grief of the eldest son of Pāṇḍu, who was tormented by the destruction of his kinsmen.
O Bhārata, all those dharmas that have been well-declared for the four varṇas and combined with the four āśramas are known to you.
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.
O Gāṅgeya, that one dharma which is not opposed to the fourfold order, being observed, is known to you today.
You are thoroughly acquainted with history and the Purāṇas, and the entire Dharmaśāstra is always present in your mind.
O bull among men, in this world, whatever matters cause doubt, there is no one other than you who can remove them.
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॥
