12.051
Pancharatra: Bhishma recognizes and worships Krishna as Lord Vishnu. Krishna requests Bhishma to impart the vast knowledge he has to Yudhishthira.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं भीष्मो वासुदेवस्य धीमतः। किञ्चिदुन्नाम्य वदनं प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥१२-५१-१॥
After hearing the words of the wise Vasudeva, Bhishma slightly raised his face and, with joined palms, spoke as follows.
नमस्ते भगवन्विष्णो लोकानां निधनोद्भव। त्वं हि कर्ता हृषीकेश संहर्ता चापराजितः ॥१२-५१-२॥
Salutations to you, O Lord Viṣṇu, who is both the origin and dissolution of the worlds. Truly, you are the creator, Hṛṣīkeśa, the destroyer, and the unconquered one.
विश्वकर्मन्नमस्तेऽस्तु विश्वात्मन्विश्वसम्भव। अपवर्गोऽसि भूतानां पञ्चानां परतः स्थितः ॥१२-५१-३॥
O Universal Creator, salutations to you! You are the soul and origin of the universe. You are liberation, existing beyond the five elements.
नमस्ते त्रिषु लोकेषु नमस्ते परतस्त्रिषु। योगेश्वर नमस्तेऽस्तु त्वं हि सर्वपरायणम् ॥१२-५१-४॥
Salutations to you in all three worlds and beyond them. O Lord of Yoga, salutations to you; for you are truly the supreme refuge of all.
मत्संश्रितं यदात्थ त्वं वचः पुरुषसत्तम। तेन पश्यामि ते दिव्यान्भावान्हि त्रिषु वर्त्मसु ॥१२-५१-५॥
O best among men, because of the words you have spoken as I have taken refuge in you, I now see your divine forms indeed in all three paths.
तच्च पश्यामि तत्त्वेन यत्ते रूपं सनातनम्। सप्त मार्गा निरुद्धास्ते वायोरमिततेजसः ॥१२-५१-६॥
And that, I see in reality your eternal form. The seven paths of the wind, of infinite brilliance, are restrained by you.
दिवं ते शिरसा व्याप्तं पद्भ्यां देवी वसुन्धरा। दिशो भुजौ रविश्चक्षुर्वीर्ये शक्रः प्रतिष्ठितः ॥१२-५१-७॥
O goddess, your head pervades the heavens, your feet the earth; your arms the directions, the sun is your eye, and Indra is established in your strength.
अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशं पीतवाससमच्युतम्। वपुर्ह्यनुमिमीमस्ते मेघस्येव सविद्युतः ॥१२-५१-८॥
We perceive your imperishable form, yellow-robed and radiant like the flax flower, as if it were a cloud adorned with lightning.
त्वत्प्रपन्नाय भक्ताय गतिमिष्टां जिगीषवे। यच्छ्रेयः पुण्डरीकाक्ष तद्ध्यायस्व सुरोत्तम ॥१२-५१-९॥
O lotus-eyed one, for the devotee who has surrendered to you and seeks victory, meditate upon that path which is the highest good, O best of the gods.
वासुदेव उवाच॥
Vāsudeva said.
यतः खलु परा भक्तिर्मयि ते पुरुषर्षभ। ततो वपुर्मया दिव्यं तव राजन्प्रदर्शितम् ॥१२-५१-१०॥
O king, because you truly possess supreme devotion to me, O best of men, therefore I have revealed your divine form to you.
न ह्यभक्ताय राजेन्द्र भक्तायानृजवे न च। दर्शयाम्यहमात्मानं न चादान्ताय भारत ॥१२-५१-११॥
O King, I do not reveal myself to the non-devoted, nor to the insincere even if devoted, nor to the undisciplined, O Bharata.
भवांस्तु मम भक्तश्च नित्यं चार्जवमास्थितः। दमे तपसि सत्ये च दाने च निरतः शुचिः ॥१२-५१-१२॥
But you are my devotee, always established in sincerity, constantly engaged in self-restraint, austerity, truth, and charity, and pure.
अर्हस्त्वं भीष्म मां द्रष्टुं तपसा स्वेन पार्थिव। तव ह्युपस्थिता लोका येभ्यो नावर्तते पुनः ॥१२-५१-१३॥
O Bhīṣma, by your own austerity you are worthy to see me, O king. Indeed, the worlds have come to you, from which there is no return.
पञ्चाशतं षट्च कुरुप्रवीर; शेषं दिनानां तव जीवितस्य। ततः शुभैः कर्मफलोदयैस्त्वं; समेष्यसे भीष्म विमुच्य देहम् ॥१२-५१-१४॥
O chief of the Kurus, fifty-six days remain of your life. Then, O Bhishma, by the auspicious arising of the fruits of your actions, you will attain release from the body.
एते हि देवा वसवो विमाना; न्यास्थाय सर्वे ज्वलिताग्निकल्पाः। अन्तर्हितास्त्वां प्रतिपालयन्ति; काष्ठां प्रपद्यन्तमुदक्पतङ्गम् ॥१२-५१-१५॥
These Vasus, the gods, having descended in their celestial chariots, all like blazing fire, invisible, are watching you, as you approach the log like a water-insect.
व्यावृत्तमात्रे भगवत्युदीचीं; सूर्ये दिशं कालवशात्प्रपन्ने। गन्तासि लोकान्पुरुषप्रवीर; नावर्तते यानुपलभ्य विद्वान् ॥१२-५१-१६॥
O best among men, when the sun has entered the blessed northern direction by the force of time, you will go to those worlds which, having attained, the wise do not return from.
अमुं च लोकं त्वयि भीष्म याते; ज्ञानानि नङ्क्ष्यन्त्यखिलेन वीर। अतः स्म सर्वे त्वयि संनिकर्षं; समागता धर्मविवेचनाय ॥१२-५१-१७॥
O Bhīṣma, when you depart for that world, all knowledge will entirely perish, O hero. Therefore, all have indeed assembled near you for the discussion of dharma.
तज्ज्ञातिशोकोपहतश्रुताय; सत्याभिसन्धाय युधिष्ठिराय। प्रब्रूहि धर्मार्थसमाधियुक्त; मर्थ्यं वचोऽस्यापनुदास्य शोकम् ॥१२-५१-१८॥
Speak to Yudhishthira, whose wisdom is afflicted by the grief of relatives and who is intent on truth, a word endowed with dharma and artha, by which you may dispel his mortal grief.
