12.054
Pancharatra: Being enquired by Krishna, Bhishma says his intellect has stabilized by the boon granted to him. Krishna requests him to teach eternal dharma, which is as authentic as the Vedas themselves.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
dharmātmani mahāsattve satyasaṃdhe jitātmani। devavrate mahābhāge śaratalpagate'cyute ॥12-54-1॥
In the infallible Bhīṣma, whose soul is righteousness, of great courage, firm in truth, self-conquered, devoted to divine vows, greatly fortunate, and lying on the bed of arrows.
śayāne vīraśayane bhīṣme śantanunandane। gāṅgeye puruṣavyāghre pāṇḍavaiḥ paryupasthite ॥12-54-2॥
When Bhīṣma, son of Śantanu and Gaṅgā, the tiger among men, was lying on his bed of arrows, surrounded by the Pāṇḍavas.
kāḥ kathāḥ samavartanta tasmin vīrasamāgame। hateṣu sarvasainyeṣu tan me śaṁsa mahāmune ॥12-54-3॥
O great sage, tell me what stories arose in that assembly of heroes when all the armies had been slain.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
śaratalpagate bhīṣme kauravāṇāṃ dhurandhare। ājagmur ṛṣayaḥ siddhā nāradapramukhā nṛpa ॥12-54-4॥
O king, as Bhīṣma, the foremost among the Kauravas, lay upon his bed of arrows, sages and perfected beings led by Nārada arrived.
hataśiṣṭāś ca rājāno yudhiṣṭhira-purogamāḥ। dhṛtarāṣṭraś ca kṛṣṇaś ca bhīma-arjuna-yamās tathā ॥12-54-5॥
The surviving kings, led by Yudhishthira, along with Dhritarashtra, Krishna, Bhima, Arjuna, and Yudhishthira, were present.
te'bhigamya mahātmāno bharatānāṃ pitāmaham। anvaśocanta gāṅgeyamadityaṃ patitaṃ yathā ॥12-54-6॥
They approached the great-souled grandsire of the Bharatas and mourned Gāṅgeya, who had fallen like the sun.
muhūrtam iva ca dhyātvā nārado devadarśanaḥ। uvāca pāṇḍavān sarvān hataśiṣṭāṃś ca pārthivān ॥12-54-7॥
After meditating for a moment, Nārada, the sage with divine vision, addressed all the Pāṇḍavas and the surviving kings.
prāptakālaṃ ca ācakṣe bhīṣmo'yanuyujyatām। astameti hi gāṅgeyo bhānumāniva bhārata ॥12-54-8॥
O Bharata, I declare that the time has come; let Bhishma be urged, for the son of Ganga is going to his setting, like the sun.
ayaṃ prāṇān utsisṛkṣus taṃ sarve'bhyetya pṛcchata। kṛtsnān hi vividhān dharmāṃś cāturvarṇyasya vetty ayam ॥12-54-9॥
All approached this one, who was desiring to give up his life, and asked him, for he indeed knows all the various duties of the fourfold order.
eṣa vṛddhaḥ purā lokān samprāpnoti tanutya-jām। taṃ śīghram anuyuñjadhvaṃ saṃśayān manasi sthitān ॥12-54-10॥
This old man once attained the worlds of those who have left their bodies. Quickly pursue him, dispelling any doubts that remain in your mind.
evamuktā nāradena bhīṣmamīyur narādhipāḥ। praṣṭuṃ cāśaknuvantas te vīkṣāṃ cakruḥ parasparam ॥12-54-11॥
Thus addressed by Nārada, the kings went to Bhīṣma; wishing to ask him, but being unable, they glanced at each other.
athovāca hṛṣīkeśaṃ pāṇḍuputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। nānyastvaddevakīputra śaktaḥ praṣṭuṃ pitāmaham ॥12-54-12॥
Then Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Pāṇḍu, said to Hṛṣīkeśa: "O son of Devakī, no one but you is capable of questioning the grandsire (Bhīṣma)."
pravyāhāraya durdharṣa tvam agre madhusūdana। tvaṃ hi nas tāta sarveṣāṃ sarvadharmaviduttamaḥ ॥12-54-13॥
Speak out, O unconquerable Madhusūdana, you go ahead. For you, dear one, are the foremost knower of all dharmas among us all.
evam-uktaḥ pāṇḍavena bhagavān keśavas tadā। abhigamya durādharṣaṃ pravyāhārayad acyutaḥ ॥12-54-14॥
Thus, when addressed in this way by the son of Pāṇḍu, the revered Keśava, Acyuta, approached the unassailable one and spoke.
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vāsudeva said.
kaccitsuḵhena rajanī vyuṣṭā te rājasattama। vispaṣṭalakṣaṇā buddhiḥ kacciccōpasthitā tava ॥12-54-15॥
O best of kings, did you spend the night comfortably? And has a clear understanding arisen in you?
kaccijjñānāni sarvāṇi pratibhānti ca te'nagha। na glāyate ca hṛdayaṃ na ca te vyākulaṃ manaḥ ॥12-54-16॥
O sinless one, do all forms of knowledge present themselves to you? Is your heart steady and your mind untroubled?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
dāho mohaḥ śramaścaiva klamo glānis tathā rujā। tava prasādād govinda sadyo vyapagatānagha ॥12-54-17॥
Burning, delusion, fatigue, exhaustion, weakness, and pain were all immediately dispelled by your grace, O Govinda, O sinless one.
yacca bhūtaṃ bhaviṣyacca bhavacca paramadyute। tatsarvamanupaśyāmi pāṇau phalamivāhitam ॥12-54-18॥
O supremely radiant one, I see all that is past, future, and present as if it is placed in your hand like a fruit.
vedoktāścaiva ye dharmā vedāntanihitāśca ye। tānsarvānsamprapaśyāmi varadānāttavācyuta ॥12-54-19॥
O Acyuta, by your boon, I now perceive all the righteous duties spoken in the Veda and those established in the Vedānta.
śiṣṭaiś ca dharmo yaḥ proktaḥ sa ca me hṛdi vartate। deśa-jāti-kulānāṃ ca dharmajño'smi janārdana ॥12-54-20॥
O Janardana, the dharma declared by the learned also dwells in my heart. I am one who knows the dharma of regions, castes, and families.
caturṣvāśramadharmeṣu yo'rthaḥ sa ca hṛdi sthitaḥ। rājadharmāṃś ca sakalān avagacchāmi keśava ॥12-54-21॥
O Keśava, the meaning of the duties of the four āśramas is established in my heart, and I understand all the duties of a king.
yatra yatra ca vaktavyaṃ tadvakṣyāmi janārdana। tava prasādāddhi śubhā mano me buddhirāviśat ॥12-54-22॥
O Janardana, wherever and whenever something is to be spoken, I shall say that. By your grace, indeed, an auspicious mind and intellect have entered me.
yuveva cāsmi saṁvṛttastvadanudhyānabṛṁhitaḥ। vaktuṁ śreyaḥ samartho'smi tvatprasādājjanārdana ॥12-54-23॥
O Janardana, by your grace and through contemplation on you, I have become like a youth, strengthened and capable of speaking what is auspicious.
svayaṃ kimarthaṃ tu bhavāñśreyo na prāha pāṇḍavam। kiṃ te vivakṣitaṃ cātra tadāśu vada mādhava ॥12-54-24॥
Why did you yourself not tell the Pāṇḍava what is better? What did you intend here? Please tell that quickly, O Mādhava.
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vāsudeva said.
yaśasaḥ śreyasaścaiva mūlaṃ māṃ viddhi kaurava। mattaḥ sarve'bhinirvṛttā bhāvāḥ sadasadātmakaāḥ ॥12-54-25॥
O Kaurava, know me as the root of both fame and excellence; from me all entities, both existent and non-existent, have arisen.
śītāṃśuś candra ity ukte ko loke vismayiṣyati. tathaiva yaśasā pūrṇe mayi ko vismayiṣyati ॥12-54-26॥
When one says 'the cool-rayed moon', who in the world is surprised? Likewise, when I am full of fame, who would be amazed at me?
ādheyaṃ tu mayā bhūyo yaśas tava mahādyute। tato me vipulā buddhis tvayi bhīṣma samāhitā ॥12-54-27॥
But your glory, O greatly radiant one, is to be established again by me. Therefore, my great intellect is now focused on you, O Bhīṣma.
yāvad dhi pṛthivī-pāla pṛthivī sthāsyate dhruvā। tāvat tavākṣayā kīrtir lokān anu cariṣyati॥12-54-28॥
O protector of the earth, as long as the earth endures, your imperishable fame will be celebrated throughout the worlds.
yacca tvaṃ vakṣyase bhīṣma pāṇḍavāyānupṛcchate। vedapravādā iva te sthāsyanti vasudhātale ॥12-54-29॥
Whatever you, Bhīṣma, speak to Pāṇḍava who is inquiring, your words will endure on earth like the declarations of the Vedas.
yaś caitena pramāṇena yokṣyaty ātmānam ātmanā। sa phalaṃ sarvapuṇyānāṃ pretya cānubhaviṣyati ॥12-54-30॥
Whoever restrains himself by himself according to this measure, he will experience, after death, the fruit of all merits.
etasmātkāraṇādbhīṣma matirdivyā mayā hi te। dattā yaśo vipratheta kathaṃ bhūyastaveti ha ॥12-54-31॥
O Bhīṣma, for this reason, I have granted you divine intellect. May your fame spread even more—thus it is.
yāvad dhi prathate loke puruṣasya yaśo bhuvi। tāvat tasyākṣayaṃ sthānaṃ bhavatīti viniścitam ॥12-54-32॥
It is certain that as long as a man's fame spreads in the world, his undiminished status endures.
rājāno hataśiṣṭāstvāṃ rājannabhita āsate। dharmān anuyuyukṣantas tebhyaḥ prabrūhi bhārata ॥12-54-33॥
O Bhārata, the kings who have survived after defeat are seated all around you, O king, desiring to understand righteous duties; declare (them) to them.
bhavān hi vayasā vṛddhaḥ śrutācārasamanvitaḥ। kuśalo rājadharmāṇāṃ pūrveṣām aparāś ca ye॥12-54-34॥
You are indeed aged by years, endowed with learning and good conduct, skilled in the royal duties of both former and later kings.
janmaprabhṛti te kaścid vṛjinaṃ na dadarśa ha। jñātāram anudharmāṇāṃ tvāṃ viduḥ sarvapārthivāḥ ॥12-54-35॥
From your birth, no one ever saw any fault in you; all the kings recognized you as the knower of those who uphold dharma.
tebhyaḥ piteva putrebhyo rājan brūhi paraṃ nayam। ṛṣayaś ca hi devāś ca tvayā nityam upāsitāḥ ॥12-54-36॥
O king, speak to them the highest policy as a father would to his sons. For you have always worshipped both the sages and the gods.
tasmād vaktavyam eva iha tvayā paśyāmi aśeṣataḥ। dharmān śuśrūṣamāṇebhyaḥ pṛṣṭena ca satā punaḥ॥12-54-37॥
Therefore, you must speak here; I see all the dharmas completely, for those eager to listen, asked again by the truthful one.
vaktavyaṃ viduṣā ceti dharmam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ। apratibruvataḥ kaṣṭo doṣo hi bhavati prabho ॥12-54-38॥
The learned say that it is the duty of the wise to speak; O lord, a severe fault indeed arises for one who does not reply.
tasmāt putraiś ca pautraiś ca dharmān pṛṣṭaḥ sanātanān। vidvān jijñāsāmanais tvaṃ prabrūhi bharatarṣabha ॥12-54-39॥
Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, you, being learned, please explain the eternal dharmas that have been asked by sons and grandsons who desire to know.
