13.154
bhīṣmasvargagamanaṁ
The going of Bhishma to heaven.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam uktvā kurūn sarvān bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavas tadā। tūṣṇīṃ babhūva kauravyaḥ sa muhūrtam ariṃ-dama ॥13-154-1॥
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)
dhārayāmāsa cātmānaṃ dhāraṇāsu yathākramaṃ। tasyordhvamagamanprāṇāḥ saṃniruddhā mahātmanaḥ॥13-154-2॥
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)
idam āścaryam āsīc ca madhye teṣāṃ mahātmanām। yad yan muñcati gātrāṇāṃ sa śantanu-sutas tadā ॥ tat tad viśalyaṃ bhavati yoga-yuktasya tasya vai ॥13-154-3॥
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)
kṣaṇena prekṣatāṃ teṣāṃ viśalyaḥ so'bhavattadā। taṃ dṛṣṭvā vismitāḥ sarve vāsudeva-purogamāḥ ॥ saha tair munibhiḥ sarvaiḥ tadā vyāsa-ādibhir nṛpa ॥13-154-4॥
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)
saṁniruddhas tu tenātmā sarveṣv āyataneṣu vai। jagāma bhittvā mūrdhānaṁ divam abhyutpapāta ca ॥13-154-5॥
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)
maholkeva ca bhīṣmasya mūrdhadeśāj janādhipa। niḥsṛtya ākāśam āviśya kṣaṇena antaradhīyata ॥13-154-6॥
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)
evaṃ sa nṛpaśārdūla nṛpaḥ śāntanavas tadā। samayujyata lokaiḥ svair bharatānāṃ kulodvahaḥ ॥13-154-7॥
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)
tatastvādāya dārūṇi gandhāṁśca vividhān bahūn। citāṁ cakruḥ mahātmānaḥ pāṇḍavā viduras tathā॥ yuyutsuś cāpi kauravyaḥ prekṣakās tvitare 'bhavan॥13-154-8॥
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)
yudhiṣṭhirastu gāṅgeyaṁ viduraśca mahāmatiḥ। chādayāmāsaturubhau kṣaumairmālyaśca kauravam॥13-154-9॥
But Yudhishthira and Vidura, both of great intellect, covered Bhishma, the son of Ganga and Kaurava, with linen garments and garlands. (13-154-9)
dhārayāmāsa tasyātha yuyutsuś chatram uttamam। cāmaravyajane śubhre bhīmasenārjunāvubhau ॥ uṣṇīṣe paryagṛhṇītāṃ mādrīputrāvubhau tadā ॥13-154-10॥
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)
striyaḥ kauravanāthasya bhīṣmaṃ kurukulodbhavam। tālavṛntāny upādāya paryavījan samantataḥ ॥13-154-11॥
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)
tato'sya vidhivaccakruḥ pitṛmedhaṃ mahātmanaḥ। yājakā juhuvuścāgniṃ jaguḥ sāmani sāmagāḥ॥13-154-12॥
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)
tataś candanakāṣṭhaiś ca tathā kāleyakair api। kālāgaru-prabhṛtibhir gandhaiś coccāvacais tathā ॥13-154-13॥
Thereafter, with sandalwood pieces, kāleyaka, kālāgaru and similar perfumes, both superior and inferior, likewise (he honored). (13-154-13)
samavacchādya gāṅgeyaṁ prajvālya ca hutāśanam। apasavyamakurvanta dhṛtarāṣṭramukhā nṛpāḥ ॥13-154-14॥
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)
saṁskṛtya ca kuruśreṣṭhaṁ gāṅgeyaṁ kurusattamāḥ। jagmur bhāgīrathī-tīram ṛṣi-juṣṭaṁ kurūdvahāḥ ॥13-154-15॥
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)
anugamyamānā vyāsena nāradenasitena ca. kṛṣṇena bharatastrībhirye ca paurāḥ samāgatāḥ ॥13-154-16॥
Accompanied by Vyāsa, Nārada, Asita, Kṛṣṇa, the women of the Bhāratas, and the assembled citizens. (13-154-16)
udakaṁ cakrire caiva gāṅgeyasya mahātmanaḥ। vidhivat kṣatriyaśreṣṭhāḥ sa ca sarvo janas tadā ॥13-154-17॥
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)
tato bhāgīrathī devī tanayasya udake kṛte। utthāya salilāt tasmāt rudatī śokalālasā ॥13-154-18॥
Then Goddess Bhagirathi, after performing the water offering for her son, rose from that water, weeping and overcome with grief. (13-154-18)
paridevayatī tatra kauravān abhyabhāṣata. nibodhata yathāvṛttam ucyamānaṃ mayānaghāḥ ॥13-154-19॥
Lamenting, he addressed the Kauravas there: "O sinless ones, listen to what is being related by me as it happened." (13-154-19)
rājavṛttena sampannaḥ prajñayābhijanena ca। satkartā kuruvṛddhānāṃ pitṛbhakto dṛḍhavrataḥ॥13-154-20॥
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)
jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa purā yo na parājitaḥ. divyaiḥ astraiḥ mahā-vīryaḥ sa hataḥ adya śikhaṇḍinā ॥13-154-21॥
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)
aśmasāramayaṁ nūnaṁ hṛdayaṁ mama pārthivāḥ। apaśyantyāḥ priyaṁ putraṁ yatra dīryati me'dya vai ॥13-154-22॥
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)
sametaṁ pārthivaṁ kṣatraṁ kāśipuryāṁ svayaṁvare। vijityai-karathenājau kanyāstā yo jahāra ha ॥13-154-23॥
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)
yasya nāsti bale tulyaḥ pṛthivyām api kaścana। hataṃ śikhaṇḍinā śrutvā yan na dīryati me manaḥ॥13-154-24॥
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)
jāmadagnyaḥ kurukṣetre yudhi yena mahātmanā। pīḍito nātiyatnena nihataḥ sa śikhaṇḍinā॥13-154-25॥
Jāmadagnya was afflicted in battle at Kurukshetra by the great-souled one, and he was slain by Śikhaṇḍin without much effort. (13-154-25)
evaṃvidhaṃ bahu tadā vilapantīṃ mahānadīm। āśvāsayāmāsa tadā sāmnā dāmodaro vibhuḥ॥13-154-26॥
Seeing the great river thus lamenting greatly, Dāmodara, the powerful one, then consoled her with gentle words. (13-154-26)
samāśvasihi bhadre tvaṃ mā śucaḥ śubhadarśane। gataḥ sa paramāṃ siddhiṃ tava putro na saṃśayaḥ ॥13-154-27॥
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)
vasureṣa mahātejāḥ śāpadoṣeṇa śobhane। manuṣyatāmanuprāpto nainaṃ śocitumarhasi ॥13-154-28॥
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)
sa eṣa kṣatradharmeṇa yudhyamānaḥ raṇājire. dhanañjayena nihataḥ naiṣa nunnaḥ śikhaṇḍinā ॥13-154-29॥
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)
bhīṣmaṃ hi kuruśārdūlamudyateṣuṃ mahāraṇe। na śaktaḥ saṃyuge hantuṃ sākṣādapi śatakratuḥ ॥13-154-30॥
Even Indra himself is not capable of slaying Bhishma, the tiger among the Kurus with raised arrows, in the great battle. (13-154-30)
svacchandena sutastubhyaṃ gataḥ svargaṃ śubhānane. na śaktāḥ syurnihantuṃ hi raṇe taṃ sarvadevatāḥ ॥13-154-31॥
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)
tasmān mā tvaṃ saricchreṣṭhe śocasva kurunandanam। vasūneṣa gato devi putras te vijvarā bhava॥13-154-32॥
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)
ity-uktā sā tu kṛṣṇena vyāsena ca sarid-varā। tyaktvā śokaṃ mahārāja svaṃ vāry avatatāra ha ॥13-154-33॥
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)
satkṛtya te tāṃ saritaṃ tataḥ kṛṣṇamukhā nṛpāḥ। anujñātāstayā sarve nyavartanta janādhipāḥ॥13-154-34॥
After duly honoring that river, those kings whose faces were blackened, having received her permission, all the rulers of men withdrew. (13-154-34)
