13.154
भीष्मस्वर्गगमनम्
The going of Bhishma to heaven.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्त्वा कुरून्सर्वान्भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा। तूष्णीं बभूव कौरव्यः स मुहूर्तमरिंदम ॥१३-१५४-१॥
Having thus addressed all the Kurus, Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, then became silent; that descendant of Kuru, subduer of enemies, remained so for a moment. (13-154-1)
धारयामास चात्मानं धारणासु यथाक्रमम्। तस्योर्ध्वमगमन्प्राणाः संनिरुद्धा महात्मनः ॥१३-१५४-२॥
He maintained himself successively in each yogic concentration, and then the vital airs of that great-souled one, being restrained, ascended upwards. (13-154-2)
इदमाश्चर्यमासीच्च मध्ये तेषां महात्मनाम्। यद्यन्मुञ्चति गात्राणां स शन्तनुसुतस्तदा ॥ तत्तद्विशल्यं भवति योगयुक्तस्य तस्य वै ॥१३-१५४-३॥
This was a marvel among those great souls: Whenever the son of Śantanu removed any arrow from his limbs, it instantly became unwounded because he was endowed with yoga, indeed. (13-154-3)
क्षणेन प्रेक्षतां तेषां विशल्यः सोऽभवत्तदा। तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मिताः सर्वे वासुदेवपुरोगमाः ॥ सह तैर्मुनिभिः सर्वैस्तदा व्यासादिभिर्नृप ॥१३-१५४-४॥
O king, in a moment, as they watched, he became free of arrows. Seeing him, all, headed by Vāsudeva, along with all those sages—Vyāsa and others—were astonished. (13-154-4)
संनिरुद्धस्तु तेनात्मा सर्वेष्वायतनेषु वै। जगाम भित्त्वा मूर्धानं दिवमभ्युत्पपात च ॥१३-१५४-५॥
But the self, restrained by him, indeed, departed from all the abodes, pierced the crown of the head, and ascended to heaven. (13-154-5)
महोल्केव च भीष्मस्य मूर्धदेशाज्जनाधिप। निःसृत्याकाशमाविश्य क्षणेनान्तरधीयत ॥१३-१५४-६॥
O ruler of men, just like a great meteor, (the energy) emerged from the crown of Bhishma's head, entered the sky, and disappeared in a moment. (13-154-6)
एवं स नृपशार्दूल नृपः शान्तनवस्तदा। समयुज्यत लोकैः स्वैर्भरतानां कुलोद्वहः ॥१३-१५४-७॥
Thus, that kingly hero, the son of Śāntanu and best of kings, then was united with his own people in the other worlds—the upholder of the Bharata lineage. (13-154-7)
ततस्त्वादाय दारूणि गन्धांश्च विविधान्बहून्। चितां चक्रुर्महात्मानः पाण्डवा विदुरस्तथा ॥ युयुत्सुश्चापि कौरव्यः प्रेक्षकास्त्वितरेऽभवन् ॥१३-१५४-८॥
Then, having collected much wood and many kinds of fragrances, the great-souled ones—the Pāṇḍavas, Vidura, and Yuyutsu, the Kaurava—built the funeral pyre; the others became mere onlookers. (13-154-8)
युधिष्ठिरस्तु गाङ्गेयं विदुरश्च महामतिः। छादयामासतुरुभौ क्षौमैर्माल्यैश्च कौरवम् ॥१३-१५४-९॥
But Yudhishthira and Vidura, both of great intellect, covered Bhishma, the son of Ganga and Kaurava, with linen garments and garlands. (13-154-9)
धारयामास तस्याथ युयुत्सुश्छत्रमुत्तमम्। चामरव्यजने शुभ्रे भीमसेनार्जुनावुभौ ॥ उष्णीषे पर्यगृह्णीतां माद्रीपुत्रावुभौ तदा ॥१३-१५४-१०॥
Then Yuyutsu held his excellent umbrella; Bhimasena and Arjuna, both, held the two white chamara-fans; the two sons of Madri, both, at that time, held the head-dress (turban). (13-154-10)
स्त्रियः कौरवनाथस्य भीष्मं कुरुकुलोद्भवम्। तालवृन्तान्युपादाय पर्यवीजन्समन्ततः ॥१३-१५४-११॥
The women took up palm-fans and fanned Bhīṣma, the lord of the Kauravas, who was born of the Kuru lineage, on all sides. (13-154-11)
ततोऽस्य विधिवच्चक्रुः पितृमेधं महात्मनः। याजका जुहुवुश्चाग्निं जगुः सामानि सामगाः ॥१३-१५४-१२॥
Then, according to the proper rites, they performed the funeral sacrifice of the great-souled one. The priests offered oblations into the fire, and the singers of the Sāman chanted the Sāman hymns. (13-154-12)
ततश्चन्दनकाष्ठैश्च तथा कालेयकैरपि। कालागरुप्रभृतिभिर्गन्धैश्चोच्चावचैस्तथा ॥१३-१५४-१३॥
Thereafter, with sandalwood pieces, kāleyaka, kālāgaru and similar perfumes, both superior and inferior, likewise (he honored). (13-154-13)
समवच्छाद्य गाङ्गेयं प्रज्वाल्य च हुताशनम्। अपसव्यमकुर्वन्त धृतराष्ट्रमुखा नृपाः ॥१३-१५४-१४॥
The kings headed by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, having fully covered the body of the one belonging to Gangā, lit the fire and performed the rites with the leftward (counterclockwise) direction. (13-154-14)
संस्कृत्य च कुरुश्रेष्ठं गाङ्गेयं कुरुसत्तमाः। जग्मुर्भागीरथीतीरमृषिजुष्टं कुरूद्वहाः ॥१३-१५४-१५॥
After performing the necessary ceremonies for the foremost of the Kurus, the son of Gaṅgā, the eminent Kurus went to the bank of the Bhāgīrathī, which was frequented by sages. (13-154-15)
अनुगम्यमाना व्यासेन नारदेनासितेन च। कृष्णेन भरतस्त्रीभिर्ये च पौराः समागताः ॥१३-१५४-१६॥
Accompanied by Vyāsa, Nārada, Asita, Kṛṣṇa, the women of the Bhāratas, and the assembled citizens. (13-154-16)
उदकं चक्रिरे चैव गाङ्गेयस्य महात्मनः। विधिवत्क्षत्रियश्रेष्ठाः स च सर्वो जनस्तदा ॥१३-१५४-१७॥
Then, the best among the Kṣatriyas and all the people made water offerings according to the injunctions for the great-souled son of Ganga. (13-154-17)
ततो भागीरथी देवी तनयस्योदके कृते। उत्थाय सलिलात्तस्माद्रुदती शोकलालसा ॥१३-१५४-१८॥
Then Goddess Bhagirathi, after performing the water offering for her son, rose from that water, weeping and overcome with grief. (13-154-18)
परिदेवयती तत्र कौरवानभ्यभाषत। निबोधत यथावृत्तमुच्यमानं मयानघाः ॥१३-१५४-१९॥
Lamenting, he addressed the Kauravas there: "O sinless ones, listen to what is being related by me as it happened." (13-154-19)
राजवृत्तेन सम्पन्नः प्रज्ञयाभिजनेन च। सत्कर्ता कुरुवृद्धानां पितृभक्तो दृढव्रतः ॥१३-१५४-२०॥
He is endowed with royal conduct, wisdom, and noble birth; an honorer of the elders of the Kurus, devoted to his father, and steadfast in his vows. (13-154-20)
जामदग्न्येन रामेण पुरा यो न पराजितः। दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्महावीर्यः स हतोऽद्य शिखण्डिना ॥१३-१५४-२१॥
He who was not defeated formerly even by Jāmadagnya Rāma, the greatly powerful wielder of divine weapons, has been slain today by Śikhaṇḍin. (13-154-21)
अश्मसारमयं नूनं हृदयं मम पार्थिवाः। अपश्यन्त्याः प्रियं पुत्रं यत्र दीर्यति मेऽद्य वै ॥१३-१५४-२२॥
O kings, indeed my heart must be made of stone, for today my heart is torn where I, not seeing my beloved son, (still live). (13-154-22)
समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं काशिपुर्यां स्वयंवरे। विजित्यैकरथेनाजौ कन्यास्ता यो जहार ह ॥१३-१५४-२३॥
He who, having conquered in battle with a single chariot the assembled kings and kṣatriyas at the svayaṁvara in the city of Kāśi, indeed carried off those maidens. (13-154-23)
यस्य नास्ति बले तुल्यः पृथिव्यामपि कश्चन। हतं शिखण्डिना श्रुत्वा यन्न दीर्यति मे मनः ॥१३-१५४-२४॥
My mind is not disturbed upon hearing that he, who had no equal in strength anywhere on the earth, was slain by Śikhaṇḍin. (13-154-24)
जामदग्न्यः कुरुक्षेत्रे युधि येन महात्मना। पीडितो नातियत्नेन निहतः स शिखण्डिना ॥१३-१५४-२५॥
Jāmadagnya was afflicted in battle at Kurukshetra by the great-souled one, and he was slain by Śikhaṇḍin without much effort. (13-154-25)
एवंविधं बहु तदा विलपन्तीं महानदीम्। आश्वासयामास तदा साम्ना दामोदरो विभुः ॥१३-१५४-२६॥
Seeing the great river thus lamenting greatly, Dāmodara, the powerful one, then consoled her with gentle words. (13-154-26)
समाश्वसिहि भद्रे त्वं मा शुचः शुभदर्शने। गतः स परमां सिद्धिं तव पुत्रो न संशयः ॥१३-१५४-२७॥
Be comforted, O good lady, do not grieve, O one of auspicious appearance. Your son has attained the highest state, there is no doubt. (13-154-27)
वसुरेष महातेजाः शापदोषेण शोभने। मनुष्यतामनुप्राप्तो नैनं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥१३-१५४-२८॥
This is a Vasu, one of great splendor, who, due to the fault of a curse, O beautiful one, has attained a human state; you ought not to grieve for him. (13-154-28)
स एष क्षत्रधर्मेण युध्यमानो रणाजिरे। धनञ्जयेन निहतो नैष नुन्नः शिखण्डिना ॥१३-१५४-२९॥
He, this very one, fighting on the battlefield according to the duty of a kṣatriya, was slain by Dhanañjaya; he was not struck down by Śikhaṇḍin. (13-154-29)
भीष्मं हि कुरुशार्दूलमुद्यतेषुं महारणे। न शक्तः संयुगे हन्तुं साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः ॥१३-१५४-३०॥
Even Indra himself is not capable of slaying Bhishma, the tiger among the Kurus with raised arrows, in the great battle. (13-154-30)
स्वच्छन्देन सुतस्तुभ्यं गतः स्वर्गं शुभानने। न शक्ताः स्युर्निहन्तुं हि रणे तं सर्वदेवताः ॥१३-१५४-३१॥
By his own will, your son has gone to heaven, O auspicious-faced one. Even all the gods would not have been able to slay him in battle. (13-154-31)
तस्मान्मा त्वं सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे शोचस्व कुरुनन्दनम्। वसूनेष गतो देवि पुत्रस्ते विज्वरा भव ॥१३-१५४-३२॥
Therefore, O best of rivers, do not grieve for Arjuna; your son has gone to the Vasus, O goddess—be free from sorrow. (13-154-32)
इत्युक्ता सा तु कृष्णेन व्यासेन च सरिद्वरा। त्यक्त्वा शोकं महाराज स्वं वार्यवततार ह ॥१३-१५४-३३॥
O great king, thus addressed by Kṛṣṇa and Vyāsa, the chief of rivers, having abandoned her sorrow, indeed descended into her own waters. (13-154-33)
सत्कृत्य ते तां सरितं ततः कृष्णमुखा नृपाः। अनुज्ञातास्तया सर्वे न्यवर्तन्त जनाधिपाः ॥१३-१५४-३४॥
After duly honoring that river, those kings whose faces were blackened, having received her permission, all the rulers of men withdrew. (13-154-34)
