12.052
Pancharatra: When Bhishma expresses his inability to steady the mind, Krishna grants him the boon not to feel any pain. As the sun was setting, everyone departed, eager to assemble again the next morning to listen to Bhishma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः कृष्णस्य तद्वाक्यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम्। श्रुत्वा शान्तनवो भीष्मः प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः ॥१२-५२-१॥
Then, after hearing Kṛṣṇa's beneficial words, which were in accord with righteousness and purpose, Bhīṣma, son of Śantanu, with joined palms, replied.
लोकनाथ महाबाहो शिव नारायणाच्युत। तव वाक्यमभिश्रुत्य हर्षेणास्मि परिप्लुतः ॥१२-५२-२॥
O lord of the world, mighty-armed one, auspicious Śiva, Nārāyaṇa, Acyuta, upon hearing your words, I am filled with joy. 12-52-2.
किं चाहमभिधास्यामि वाक्पते तव संनिधौ। यदा वाचोगतं सर्वं तव वाचि समाहितम् ॥१२-५२-३॥
O lord of speech, what can I say in your presence, when all that can be said is already contained within your own speech?
यद्धि किञ्चित्कृतं लोके कर्तव्यं क्रियते च यत्। त्वत्तस्तन्निःसृतं देव लोका बुद्धिमया हि ते ॥१२-५२-४॥
O Lord, whatever is done or ought to be done in the world, all that has emanated from you; indeed, the worlds are composed of intelligence and are yours.
कथयेद्देवलोकं यो देवराजसमीपतः। धर्मकामार्थशास्त्राणां सोऽर्थान्ब्रूयात्तवाग्रतः ॥१२-५२-५॥
He who can describe the world of the gods as witnessed near the king of gods should explain to you, in your presence, the meanings of the treatises on dharma, desire, and wealth.
शराभिघाताद्व्यथितं मनो मे मधुसूदन। गात्राणि चावसीदन्ति न च बुद्धिः प्रसीदति ॥१२-५२-६॥
O Madhusūdana, my mind is disturbed by the impact of arrows; my limbs are failing and my understanding is not steady.
न च मे प्रतिभा काचिदस्ति किञ्चित्प्रभाषितुम्। पीड्यमानस्य गोविन्द विषानलसमैः शरैः ॥१२-५२-७॥
O Govinda, I do not have even a little intelligence left to speak, being tormented by arrows that are like poison and fire.
बलं मेधाः प्रजरति प्राणाः सन्त्वरयन्ति च। मर्माणि परितप्यन्ते भ्रान्तं चेतस्तथैव च ॥१२-५२-८॥
My strength and intelligence depart, my vital breaths are agitated; my vital parts are tormented, and my mind is confused in the same way.
दौर्बल्यात्सज्जते वाङ्मे स कथं वक्तुमुत्सहे। साधु मे त्वं प्रसीदस्व दाशार्हकुलनन्दन ॥१२-५२-९॥
Because of weakness, my speech falters; how can I speak? O noble one, please be gracious to me, O joy of the Daśārha lineage.
तत्क्षमस्व महाबाहो न ब्रूयां किञ्चिदच्युत। त्वत्संनिधौ च सीदेत वाचस्पतिरपि ब्रुवन् ॥१२-५२-१०॥
Therefore, O mighty-armed, forgive me; I would not say anything, O infallible one. Even the lord of speech would falter while speaking in your presence.
न दिशः सम्प्रजानामि नाकाशं न च मेदिनीम्। केवलं तव वीर्येण तिष्ठामि मधुसूदन ॥१२-५२-११॥
O Madhusudana, I do not perceive the directions, nor the sky, nor the earth; I stand only by your strength.
स्वयमेव प्रभो तस्माद्धर्मराजस्य यद्धितम्। तद्ब्रवीह्याशु सर्वेषामागमानां त्वमागमः ॥१२-५२-१२॥
O lord, therefore, please quickly tell whatever is beneficial for Dharmarāja; you are the authority among all traditions.
कथं त्वयि स्थिते लोके शाश्वते लोककर्तरि। प्रब्रूयान्मद्विधः कश्चिद्गुरौ शिष्य इव स्थिते ॥१२-५२-१३॥
How could anyone like me, when you, the eternal creator of the world, are present, speak to the teacher as a disciple would?
वासुदेव उवाच॥
Vāsudeva said.
उपपन्नमिदं वाक्यं कौरवाणां धुरन्धरे। महावीर्ये महासत्त्वे स्थिते सर्वार्थदर्शिनि ॥१२-५२-१४॥
This statement is appropriate, as the pillar of the Kauravas, endowed with great energy and great courage, who perceives all meanings, stands here.
यच्च मामात्थ गाङ्गेय बाणघातरुजं प्रति। गृहाणात्र वरं भीष्म मत्प्रसादकृतं विभो ॥१२-५२-१५॥
O Bhishma, O son of Ganga, regarding what you have asked me about the pain from the arrow-strike, accept here the boon granted by my grace, O mighty one.
न ते ग्लानिर्न ते मूर्छा न दाहो न च ते रुजा। प्रभविष्यन्ति गाङ्गेय क्षुत्पिपासे न चाप्युत ॥१२-५२-१६॥
O son of Ganga, neither fatigue nor fainting, nor burning, nor pain will arise for you; and indeed, neither hunger nor thirst will affect you.
ज्ञानानि च समग्राणि प्रतिभास्यन्ति तेऽनघ। न च ते क्वचिदासक्तिर्बुद्धेः प्रादुर्भविष्यति ॥१२-५२-१७॥
O sinless one, all knowledges will become clear to you, and nowhere will any attachment of the intellect arise in you.
सत्त्वस्थं च मनो नित्यं तव भीष्म भविष्यति। रजस्तमोभ्यां रहितं घनैर्मुक्त इवोडुराट् ॥१२-५२-१८॥
Your Bhishma's mind will always remain established in sattva, free from rajas and tamas, just like the moon released from clouds.
यद्यच्च धर्मसंयुक्तमर्थयुक्तमथापि वा। चिन्तयिष्यसि तत्राग्र्या बुद्धिस्तव भविष्यति ॥१२-५२-१९॥
Whatever you consider that is joined with dharma or artha, or even otherwise, there your intellect will be foremost.
इमं च राजशार्दूल भूतग्रामं चतुर्विधम्। चक्षुर्दिव्यं समाश्रित्य द्रक्ष्यस्यमितविक्रम ॥१२-५२-२०॥
O mighty-armed one, O tiger among kings, by resorting to the divine eye, you will see this group of beings of four kinds.
चतुर्विधं प्रजाजालं संयुक्तो ज्ञानचक्षुषा। भीष्म द्रक्ष्यसि तत्त्वेन जले मीन इवामले ॥१२-५२-२१॥
O Bhīṣma, endowed with the eye of knowledge, you will truly perceive the fourfold net of beings, just as fish are seen in clear water.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततस्ते व्याससहिताः सर्व एव महर्षयः। ऋग्यजुःसामसंयुक्तैर्वचोभिः कृष्णमर्चयन् ॥१२-५२-२२॥
Then all the great sages, together with Vyāsa, worshipped Kṛṣṇa with words from the Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāma Vedas.
ततः सर्वार्तवं दिव्यं पुष्पवर्षं नभस्तलात्। पपात यत्र वार्ष्णेयः सगाङ्गेयः सपाण्डवः ॥१२-५२-२३॥
Then, a divine shower of flowers from all seasons fell from the sky at the place where Kṛṣṇa, together with Bhīṣma and the Pāṇḍavas, was present.
वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि जगुश्चाप्सरसां गणाः। न चाहितमनिष्टं वा किञ्चित्तत्र व्यदृश्यत ॥१२-५२-२४॥
Divine musical instruments were played and groups of apsarases sang; nothing harmful or inauspicious was seen there.
ववौ शिवः सुखो वायुः सर्वगन्धवहः शुचिः। शान्तायां दिशि शान्ताश्च प्रावदन्मृगपक्षिणः ॥१२-५२-२५॥
A gentle, auspicious, and fragrant wind blew, and in the tranquil direction, the peaceful animals and birds made their sounds.
ततो मुहूर्ताद्भगवान्सहस्रांशुर्दिवाकरः। दहन्वनमिवैकान्ते प्रतीच्यां प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥१२-५२-२६॥
Then, after a moment, the glorious sun with a thousand rays, like a burning forest, appeared alone in the western sky.
ततो महर्षयः सर्वे समुत्थाय जनार्दनम्। भीष्ममामन्त्रयां चक्रू राजानं च युधिष्ठिरम् ॥१२-५२-२७॥
Then all the great sages rose and addressed Janārdana, Bhīṣma, and King Yudhiṣṭhira.
ततः प्रणाममकरोत्केशवः पाण्डवस्तथा। सात्यकिः सञ्जयश्चैव स च शारद्वतः कृपः ॥१२-५२-२८॥
Then Keśava offered obeisance; similarly did the Pāṇḍava, Sātyaki, Sañjaya, and Kṛpa, the son of Śarada.
ततस्ते धर्मनिरताः सम्यक्तैरभिपूजिताः। श्वः समेष्याम इत्युक्त्वा यथेष्टं त्वरिता ययुः ॥१२-५२-२९॥
Then those devoted to dharma, having been properly honored, said, "Tomorrow we shall assemble," and quickly departed as they wished.
तथैवामन्त्र्य गाङ्गेयं केशवस्ते च पाण्डवाः। प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य रथानारुरुहुः शुभान् ॥१२-५२-३०॥
In the same way, after addressing the son of Ganga, Keśava and the Pāṇḍavas circumambulated him and then ascended their auspicious chariots.
ततो रथैः काञ्चनदन्तकूबरै; र्महीधराभैः समदैश्च दन्तिभिः। हयैः सुपर्णैरिव चाशुगामिभिः; पदातिभिश्चात्तशरासनादिभिः ॥१२-५२-३१॥
Then, the army advanced with chariots adorned with golden-tusked humps, elephants like mountains in rut, horses swift as Garuḍa, and foot-soldiers equipped with drawn bows and other weapons.
ययौ रथानां पुरतो हि सा चमू; स्तथैव पश्चादतिमात्रसारिणी। पुरश्च पश्चाच्च यथा महानदी; पुरर्क्षवन्तं गिरिमेत्य नर्मदा ॥१२-५२-३२॥
That army moved ahead of the chariots, and likewise, exceedingly fast behind. In front and behind, just as the great river Narmada, after reaching the mountain named Purarkṣa.
ततः पुरस्ताद्भगवान्निशाकरः; समुत्थितस्तामभिहर्षयंश्चमूम्। दिवाकरापीतरसास्तथौषधीः; पुनः स्वकेनैव गुणेन योजयन् ॥१२-५२-३३॥
Then, in front, the venerable moon rose, delighting her and the army. The sun, having deprived the herbs of their juices, again restored them by his own quality.
ततः पुरं सुरपुरसंनिभद्युति; प्रविश्य ते यदुवृषपाण्डवास्तदा। यथोचितान्भवनवरान्समाविश; ञ्श्रमान्विता मृगपतयो गुहा इव ॥१२-५२-३४॥
Then, those Yadus, Vrishnis, and Pandavas entered the city, which shone like the city of the gods, and, weary, entered their splendid mansions as lions enter their caves.
