SB Canto 1: Creation
Chapter 9 | The Passing Away of Bhīṣmadeva in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
Start date: 7 May, 2025
- Collect blessing from devotees, this is what Yudishtir Maharaj did. Duryodana collected dislikes from sr. devotees. We should try to be like Yudistir Maharaj*
Text 1
Yudistir Maharaj takes blame on himself for something he has not even done.
Question: Are we ready to take blame for something that we have done? Previously, Lord Kṛṣṇa bewildered Arjuna, gave him Bhagavadgita and then the pandavas became victorious. Now, King Yudistir is bewildered after the battle by Lord Kṛṣṇa. In Bhagavadgita, Lord Kṛṣṇa used Arjuna as an instrument to reach to us. Yudistir is son of dharma, so he is dharma personified and only Lord Kṛṣṇa can bewilder such a personality - a dharamavatara is dewildered. Lord Kṛṣṇa then guides Yudistir maharaj to go somewhere else to be pacified - which is described in this chapter.
yatra deva-vrato ’patat - Yudistir maharaj and the brothers appraoch Bhīṣmadeva. We next learn what happens next and why.
It is not a bad thing to know if we are going to die and in Kṛṣṇa Conciousness it is actually a blessing. This way one can fully renounce and focus on their bhakti. However, It is a sensitive topic (Personal statement) as opposed to dying in old age with no one beside or in unconcious state.
To remember
- We have to thus continue reading Srimad Bhagavatam and live in Bhagavatam.
- Only then can we set ourselves to be in the path of realization of Lord Kṛṣṇa during death.
Text 2
Here, next few verses, Bhīṣmadeva will speak. One can refer to this as Bhīṣma-gita. Yudistri maharaj with all his brothers on gold-decorated horses appraoch Bhīṣmadeva. The pandavas appraoch along with Vyasadeva, Bhaumya and other great personalities.
Text 3
bhagavān api viprarṣe rathena sa-dhanañjayaḥ - Krishna is on Arjuna's ratha
sa tair vyarocata nṛpaḥ kuvera iva guhyakaiḥ - Decorated / Aristocratic / Rich royal family as much as Kuvera, the demigod for wealth.
Question: How many go to a funeral in the best of clothes, ornaments and cars etc. to a funeral?
Answer: None.
Question: The passing away of Bhīṣmadeva in front of well decorated princes - but why?
Answer: Because Yudistir was the rightful king, Bhīṣmadeva wanted to always see him as a king - that was his internal wish from the bottom of his heart. Hence, Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted the internal wish that is within Bhīṣmadeva's heart to be fulfilled.
Text 4
Seeing Bhīṣmadeva lie on the earth, the pandavas paid their obeisances (with respect). So far, Yudistir maharaj was described as a king and yet the vedic rituals are so sweet that teach us a lesson that a king comes down to bow and offer obeisances.
dṛṣṭvā nipatitaṁ bhūmau divaś cyutam ivāmaram praṇemuḥ pāṇḍavā bhīṣmaṁ sānugāḥ saha cakriṇā
Text 5
tatra brahmarṣayaḥ sarve devarṣayaś ca sattama rājarṣayaś ca tatrāsan draṣṭuṁ bharata-puṅgavam
So bhagavatam sets here more into the scene - the Brahma rishis, Devarishis and rajarishis (all who are in sattva mode) are present. It is not really important to know the difference between the different types of rishis.
- Here the speaker and hearer are both in mode of goodness (As opposed to our lives in this kaliyuga).
Text 6,7 & 8
In the class, all three were read together.
anye ca munayo brahman brahmarātādayo ’malāḥ śiṣyair upetā ājagmuḥ kaśyapāṅgirasādayaḥ
In Text 1, we saw Yudistir maharaj was afraid. Then 2-3 Krishna brought pandavas in decoration. We then saw the obeisances being paid and the presence of great souls who have come.
Next, Bhīṣmadeva speaks but his stuti does not yet start.
Text 9
important verse
tān sametān mahā-bhāgān upalabhya vasūttamaḥ pūjayām āsa dharma-jño deśa-kāla-vibhāgavit
Seeing all the souls, Bhīṣmadeva welcomed all and he knew dharma according to time. Prabhupad tell us we have to act according to time & place.
deśa-kāla-vibhāgavit
deśa - place and kāla
- time, Bhīṣmadeva offers to Lord Kṛṣṇa with what he had in his bed made of arrows - with sweet words. Prabhupada tells us this and showed this to us in ISKCON temples - Panini in Paris, Burger in Melbourne, Pizza offering to the lord and etc.
Text 10
kṛṣṇaṁ ca tat-prabhāva-jña āsīnaṁ jagad-īśvaram hṛdi-sthaṁ pūjayām āsa māyayopātta-vigraham
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is situated in everyone’s heart, yet He manifests His transcendental form by His internal potency. This very Lord was sitting before Bhīṣmadeva, and since Bhīṣmadeva knew of His glories, he worshiped Him duly.
Bhīṣmadeva offers one prayer to Lord kṛṣṇa and then goes to the pandavas and his stuti comes after addressing the pandavas
The feeling he offers to the pandavas is out of this world.
Coming from India with our knowledge, we may have misconceptions on Bhīṣmadeva but we have to pay attention here next to know more about Bhīṣmadeva and his intent as well as who he is truly.
Text 11
pāṇḍu-putrān upāsīnān praśraya-prema-saṅgatān abhyācaṣṭānurāgāśrair andhībhūtena cakṣuṣā
Observations
- Sitting beside and are silent.
- Being overtaken with genuine affectionate love (not artifical)
- andhībhūtena cakṣuṣā - tears in eyes and feelings in his hearts. Tears of ecstacy. 45 days on the bed of arrows and he never cried. This was the first time he has tears but of happiness.
With such strong feelings, Bhīṣmadeva congragulates the pandavas.
Bhagavatam tells us all
- Who is the speaker
- Why
- Setting the whole context
Text 12
aho kaṣṭam aho ’nyāyyaṁ yad yūyaṁ dharma-nandanāḥ jīvituṁ nārhatha kliṣṭaṁ vipra-dharmācyutāśrayāḥ
Going through difficulties is one thing but you also went to aho ’nyāyyaṁ
- injustice.
- My god alas so much injustice is the expression here.
And yet on top of that dharma-nandanāḥ
you are religion personified - Truth. Blind but justice. You dharma-nandanāḥ have been treated with injustice when you were supposed to give dharma and justice to all.
jīvituṁ nārhatha kliṣṭaṁ vipra-dharmācyutāśrayāḥ
- How have you survived.
Important
Question: How did they survive this way? Answer: Bhismadeva gives here three medicines.
- vipra - devotee association
- Dharma - Guidance of devotees, Welwishing and service to devotees.
- ācyutāśrayāḥ - Shelter of Krishna.
3Bs that contiue in next life - Bhakti Bhaktas and Bhagavan.
Text 13
saṁsthite ’tirathe pāṇḍau pṛthā bāla-prajā vadhūḥ yuṣmat-kṛte bahūn kleśān prāptā tokavatī muhuḥ
So what were those difficulties?
- Queen Kunti: Pandu died early, Queen Kunti - my daughter-in-law had many problems. As a widowed mother, it was challenging. As the children grew up, the problems only grew and came again and again and again. Difficulties were so many that Queen kunti was used to it but
vipra-dharmācyutāśrayāḥ
Two questions:
- Why pandavas were dressed?
- Why did they suffer so much?
That follows up in the next class.
Text 14
sarvaṁ kāla-kṛtaṁ manye
bhavatāṁ ca yad-apriyam
sapālo yad-vaśe loko
vāyor iva ghanāvaliḥ
In my mind everything is because of time.
How does time make one suffer? Due to time, we go through suffering. Suffering we go through today is prarabdha and suffering that comes later is aprarabdha. So we have to be careful of our karma.
Text 15
yatra dharma-suto rājā
gadā-pāṇir vṛkodaraḥ
kṛṣṇo ’strī gāṇḍivaṁ cāpaṁ
suhṛt kṛṣṇas tato vipat
How can Yudistir maharaj have karma? He is the dharma. Time won't touch him. Bheema has done no wrong. Time won't touch him. Arjuna is the best friend of Krishna, Time won't touch him.
Even if they had bad karma, or with bhakti - it should have been nullified. On top, Krishna is wellwisher of Pandavas and is bestowing mercy, Why are the pandavas suffering?
Therefore, It is not time or Karma?
Text 16
na hy asya karhicid rājan
pumān veda vidhitsitam
yad vijijñāsayā yuktā
muhyanti kavayo ’pi hi
Now comes the answer to why the pandavas are suffering.
vidhitsitam - plan of the lord. muhyanti kavayo ’pi hi - even the great poets get stunned.
Pandavas are suffering because the lord has planned it such a way. This way, Bhagavadgita and Bhagavatam flows as mercy to us through pure devtees.
The mellow of Queen kunti prayers, the lord putting pandavas in all situations of suffering under the kauravas is only for us to know.
Bhagavatam gives us
What do good people do when bad things happen to them?
Text 17
Yudistir maharaj, just follow the plan of thje lord. People have become anath after the war - so offer them shelter become their shelter.
Devotees should give shelter similarly to people - giving bhkati is the best shelter a devotee can give to a person.
Text 18
Now Bhishmadeva turns towards Krishna
eṣa vai bhagavān sākṣād
ādyo nārāyaṇaḥ pumān
mohayan māyayā lokaṁ
gūḍhaś carati vṛṣṇiṣu
Bhismadeva is aware that Krishna is the original person. Bhismadeva's istadevata is narayana. He wants to serve narayana - ista bhagavan.
ādyo nārāyaṇaḥ pumān - The first narayana - the source of narayana. mohayan māyayā lokaṁ - He puts people under maya / illusion and bewilders. gūḍhaś carati vṛṣṇiṣu - And is going around as a member of the vṛṣṇiṣu dyanasty.
Question
But is it that everyone is bewildered? Or can few truly see him? We see that in the next.
Why can I see?
-[x] Sincerity - Sincerity is tested. -[x] Strength - When Krsna puts us in situations gives us strength too. -[x] Pleasure - Gives us pleasure through bhakti to surpass the problems in material life.
Pleasure - Balarama purnima before Krishna janmastami. Plough through heart, gives us strength. This act of balaram gives us krishna in our heart.
Text 19
asyānubhāvaṁ bhagavān
veda guhyatamaṁ śivaḥ
devarṣir nāradaḥ sākṣād
bhagavān kapilo nṛpa
The lord comes with his plan and bewildres.
Excepting
But the few below don't get bewilders + all the mahajanas too. guhyatamaṁ śivaḥ - Lord Shiva bhagavān kapilo nṛpa - Lord Kapila Narada
How does the lord interact with us all? Text 20!
Text 20
yaṁ manyase mātuleyaṁ
priyaṁ mitraṁ suhṛttamam
akaroḥ sacivaṁ dūtaṁ
sauhṛdād atha sārathim
So many roles Krishna has played in the lives of the pandavas.
Text 21
sarvātmanaḥ sama-dṛśo
hy advayasyānahaṅkṛteḥ
tat-kṛtaṁ mati-vaiṣamyaṁ
niravadyasya na kvacit
sarvātmanaḥ - super soul sama-dṛśo - sees all equally
More qualities.
Text 22
tathāpy ekānta-bhakteṣu
paśya bhūpānukampitam
yan me ’sūṁs tyajataḥ sākṣāt
kṛṣṇo darśanam āgataḥ
Translation
The meaning is goal of life
tathāpy - but ekānta-bhakteṣu paśya bhūpānukampitam - Only to the pure devotees he has got more inclination. Krishna is impartial and partial. Anyone can become his pure devotees.
Goal
That krishna out out pure mercy - That Krishna, He walked towards Bhishmadeva. Knowing that, Bhishmadeva get this.
Our journey
- Regularly and sincerely go to temple.
- Then Altar at home. Together with Acharyas.
- This way Krishna slowly enters our heart - alter of our heart.
Point prabhupada makes is that Krishna is not related (relation) with Bhishmadeva - Material relative horizontal relationship. That is because for us all Krishna is the vertical relationship. Devotee means to look up - towards Krishna - not sideways.
Vertical relationship with Krishna is paramount.
Question - How do we understand our relationship with Krishna
That comes in Text 23.
Text 23
bhaktyāveśya mano yasmin
vācā yan-nāma kīrtayan
tyajan kalevaraṁ yogī
mucyate kāma-karmabhiḥ
To re-enliven that relationship
- Devotional service
- Meditation on krishna
- Nama kirtanam
Doing these all the karmic reactions - we get liberated.
Text 24
sa deva-devo bhagavān pratīkṣatāṁ
kalevaraṁ yāvad idaṁ hinomy aham
prasanna-hāsāruṇa-locanollasan-
mukhāmbujo dhyāna-pathaś catur-bhujaḥ
Bhismadeva has a boon to leave life at his will. Oh lord I normally I wait for you and now you have come walking to me, So please stay here until I leave my body.
Two points
- pratīkṣatāṁ
- kalevaraṁ
Here Bhismadeva can see the four-handed form and in pitambar. Please wait for me why i pass, appear to me happy and beautifully decorated in the four-handed form of krishna.
- Walk to the temple such a way that lords walks to us.
- Why is krishna arraning such that Yudistir gets to hear and solve his crisis from Bhusmadeva?
- Krishna wants Bhishmadeva to be glorified for his role in Krishna leela. Bhishmadeva exposed himself to be misunderstood by many in his service to Krishna.
- Misunderstood by men, Glorified by Krishna.
- At this moment, He was on a vyasasan of arrows before dying.
- Krishna wants to extract yet another seva of giving Krishna Katha before his last breath - on how to be a good king because Yudistir is now soon to be a king albeit Yudistir is a good devotee.
- He is one of the top Vaishnavas and is one of the mahajana.
Important
Question: Why was Bhishmadeva quiet when Draupadi was being disrobed? Answer:
- Bhismadeva was silent to play his role as set by Krishna. Without intervening, he is glorifying krishna.
- In life, if we are powerful or surrounded by powerful people, we may have such powerful people.
- However at the end of the day there is only one protector and one shelter and that is Krishna.
- Same example: Hanuman & Sita at Lanka.
- Devotee wants lord to have more glory, so expert persons like Bhismadeva or Hanuman know when to not do action so that the lord gets credit.
Text 25
sūta uvāca
yudhiṣṭhiras tad ākarṇya
śayānaṁ śara-pañjare
apṛcchad vividhān dharmān
ṛṣīṇāṁ cānuśṛṇvatām
May 21, 2025
Bhishmadeva gives 12 dharmas by categories here in 26-28
Text 26
puruṣa-sva-bhāva-vihitān
yathā-varṇaṁ yathāśramam
vairāgya-rāgopādhibhyām
āmnātobhaya-lakṣaṇān
- varṇāśrama-dharma
Text 27
dāna-dharmān rāja-dharmān
mokṣa-dharmān vibhāgaśaḥ
strī-dharmān bhagavad-dharmān
samāsa-vyāsa-yogataḥ
- dāna-dharmān
- rāja-dharmān
- mokṣa-dharmān
- strī-dharmā
- bhagavad-dharmān
Text 28
dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṁś ca
sahopāyān yathā mune
nānākhyānetihāseṣu
varṇayām āsa tattvavit
tattvavit - Tat is truth and avit vidya of - so knowledge of truth. Hence is able to give these 12 dharmas.
- While giving this lecture (Mahabharat - as bhagavatam does not delve in here) to read that part in Mahabharat.
Text 29
dharmaṁ pravadatas tasya
sa kālaḥ pratyupasthitaḥ
yo yoginaś chanda-mṛtyor
vāñchitas tūttarāyaṇaḥ
ūttarāyaṇaḥ has two meanings and we can see three reasons to why
- So ūttarāyaṇaḥ - sun in the norther hemisphere is one
- Uttara and ayanah - one who took shelter in Uttara's womb - to protect maharaj parikshit.
- Hastinapur is now protected as Yudistir is now the king (dharma personified as the king).
Text 30
tadopasaṁhṛtya giraḥ sahasraṇīr
vimukta-saṅgaṁ mana ādi-pūruṣe
kṛṣṇe lasat-pīta-paṭe catur-bhuje
puraḥ sthite ’mīlita-dṛg vyadhārayat
Text 31
viśuddhayā dhāraṇayā hatāśubhas
tad-īkṣayaivāśu gatā-yudha-śramaḥ
nivṛtta-sarvendriya-vṛtti-vibhramas
tuṣṭāva janyaṁ visṛjañ janārdanam
- vyavasaikatma buddhira ekeme kuru nandana - To fix typos - BG Ref.
- Appropriate time had come and when that came, Bhismadeva keft everything and with purified mind next offers prayers that we now know as
bhishmastuti
- THe present is a gift - listen to bhismastuti with meditative spirit forgetting everything else. - Exercise
Text 32
śrī-bhīṣma uvāca
iti matir upakalpitā vitṛṣṇā
bhagavati sātvata-puṅgave vibhūmni
sva-sukham upagate kvacid vihartuṁ
prakṛtim upeyuṣi yad-bhava-pravāhaḥ
To-Do: Learn the verse
Exercise
- Learn the verses for the next class
- Learn the meaning for the next class
- Let my mind, let me invest my mind now - iti matir upakalpitā vitṛṣṇā - without any desires / into nothing else but bhagavati - Krishna.
- sātvata-puṅgave vibhūmni - Satva guna - onto Leader of all devotees that is Krishna and that krishan is all powerful and great.
- sva-sukham upagate kvacid vihartuṁ - This krishna is self-satisfied atma-rama but sometimes for recreation comes
- prakṛtim upeyuṣi yad-bhava-pravāhaḥ - who is in sva-dham vaikunta comes to material world only to please his pure devotees.
- Bhishma is investing his mind in Krishna and Krishna's pastimes and this is the best type of investment of mind.
- BMW of devotees - Body mind and words - Bhishma is now using his body, mind and words to glorify Krishna.
Text 33
tri-bhuvana-kamanaṁ tamāla-varṇaṁ
ravi-kara-gaura-vara-ambaraṁ dadhāne
vapur alaka-kulāvṛtānanābjaṁ
vijaya-sakhe ratir astu me ’navadyā
- Kamanam -very attractive to all three worlds.
- Somone is famous in certain thing in a certain location - like Miss World 2012.
- Krishna is however attractive to all three worlds and at all times.
- Tamāla-varṇaṁ - Krishna is blackish in color - Tamala tree is blackish in color. Observable in the forest of Vrindavan - Bluish.
- Vrindavan - MBT - Tamala tree - Krishna is like a tamala tree as well as in Krishna-Balarama temple in Vrindavana. exture is very soft and Krishna's body is very soft.
- Ravi-kara-gaura-vara-ambaraṁ dadhāne - To wear clothes (Pitambar) - becomes gloden and glittering in the sun.
- Vapur alaka-kulāvṛtānanābjaṁ - Alaka - Hair, Kulāvṛta - Vapu body. alaka-kulāvṛta-ananābjaṁ - smeared with sandalwood paste and kumkum. Anana - face, abja - lotus. Krishna's face is like a lotus flower.
- vijaya-sakhe ratir astu me ’navadyā - To that Krishna - Friend of Arjuna, on to that Krishna I am medidating, hankering, desiring, longing, loving and attachment to that Krishna. I do not want my mind ot go anywhere else.
Bhishmadevai s a busy person, involved in politics, Kauravas, protection of pandavas, war, etc. - we have same - many things to do. Similarly, we have to set everything to the side and investing on chanting. Every bead is Krishna, Everybead is gopi. We should feel like we are massaging Krishna.
When chanting first is to put the mobile away.
Text 34
yudhi turaga-rajo-vidhūmra-viṣvak-
kaca-lulita-śramavāry-alaṅkṛtāsye
mama niśita-śarair vibhidyamāna-
tvaci vilasat-kavace ’stu kṛṣṇa ātmā
Yudhi - Fight. Turago- Horse. Rajo- Dust. Vidhūmra- Dusty. Viṣvak- Waving.
Dust is there everywhere and on Krishna's body and Krishna is sweating. However, The dust is decorating Krishna.
Everything about the lord is attractive - evne the dust and sweat of the lord is attractive. Even when his hair is all over. That is why he is tribhuvana-kamanaṁ tamāla-varṇaṁ.
My sharp arrows have pierced his body and the dust of the arrows is decorating Krishna's body. During the war, Krishna is relishing when Bhismadeva is shooting arrows at him. Krishna is relishing the pain and the dust of the arrows on his body.
- Why? Because Bhishmadeva is in his virya-rasa. It is a different level and we should not try to imitate this. Bhismadeva is on Krishna's party and thereforce Krishna is relishing the arrows.
- On to that Krishna, my sould / self / mind dwell on this krishna.
astu kṛṣṇa ātmā
- May Krishna be my soul, my self, my everything
Text 35
sapadi sakhi-vaco niśamya madhye
nija-parayor balayo rathaṁ niveśya
sthitavati para-sainikāyur akṣṇā
hṛtavati pārtha-sakhe ratir mamāstu
Sapadi sakhi-vaco niśamya madhye - In the battlefield, Arjun spoke to Krishna and Bhishmadeva heard it - Senayoruvayor madhye - In the middle of the two armies, Arjuna spoke to Krishna and Bhishmadeva heard it.
To that Krishna, whom arjuna had ordered to take the cahriot in the middle of the two armies, I have my love and attachment to that Krishna.
- We have multiple choices in life and we have many confusions. Arjuna shows our lives and hence his chariot is in the middle of the two armies. He is confused and he does not know what to do. He is bewildered and Krishna gives him Bhagavadgita. We are also bewildered and confused in our lives.
- When Arjuna was in the middle of the two armies, he observed the strengths of both the armies.
- At this point in time, Just by standing in middle, When arjuna is going through compassion , Krishna shortened life of the opposition by his eyes. The rest is all but a replay of the drama as desired by Krishna.
Text 36
vyavahita-pṛtanā-mukhaṁ nirīkṣya
sva-jana-vadhād vimukhasya doṣa-buddhyā
kumatim aharad ātma-vidyayā yaś
caraṇa-ratiḥ paramasya tasya me ’stu
- Arjuna is turning away from willing to kill the kauravas and Bhishmadeva is seeing this. Out of misplaced compassion.
- BG 2.7 - Polluted intelligence - So Arjuna does not want to kill.
- His thinking is very impure.
- Krishna taught him Atma-vidya - Transcendental Knowledge of the self through Bhagavadgita and then Arjuna is able to see the truth.
- When we are in bewilderment, we have to remember this Atma-vidya - which is in Bhagavadgita and Bhagavatam.
- On to that Krishna, who gave atma-vidya, I have my attachment and love to whom Arjuna. on to the lotus feet of that Krishna, I have my attachment and love. My mind be/remain onto him.
Important teaching from Arjuna
- His confusion was never on if he wins.
- His cofuion was on happineses afterwards.
- A great lesson for us that Arjuna teaches us.
- Victory is not necessarily happiness.
- Wealth will not make us happy - Bhagavadgita 2.14 - Happiness and distress are temporary.
Text 37
sva-nigamam apahāya mat-pratijñām
ṛtam adhikartum avapluto rathasthaḥ
dhṛta-ratha-caraṇo ’bhyayāc caladgur
harir iva hantum ibhaṁ gatottarīyaḥ
- In the battle, Bhishmadeva recalls he made a promise to make Lord Krishna break his promise and fight.
sva-nigamam - Your own truth. apahāya - give up. Krishna gave up his own vow.
mat-pratijñām - My promise. So that my promise is fulfilled.
Krishna will break any vow for the protection of his devotees.
Krishna is happy as long as his pure devotees are happy.
However, Krishna will never break his promise to his devotees. He appeared to break but did not break his promise. He did not fight.
From the chariot, Krishna got down, took up the wheels of the chariot and rushed hurriedly towards Bhishmadeva to kill him. Just like a lion coming towards an elephant to devour the elephant, During which Krishna's garmet falls down. Chariot wheel is not a weapon, hence vow is not broken.
Krishna's devotees will never perish, Krishna will protect them - This is what Krishna makes Arjuna say. Rest assured Krishna will never break this promise so that his devotees are protected always.
Protection here can also be the protection of the soul's devotion (Bhakti). Everything is actually Krishna's arrangement.
Now, Bhishmadeva is thinking of that Krishna here - who came to protect his vow as he is a devotee.
18 Jun 2025
Relishiables from this chapter from bhisma-stuti
- Partha-sarathy form of the lord
- How to offer prayers to Krishna
- How to offer prayers to Krishna at the temple.
- Glorify and ask for bhakti - no need for a perfect poem.
Text 38
śita-viśikha-hato viśīrṇa-daṁśaḥ
kṣataja-paripluta ātatāyino me
prasabham abhisasāra mad-vadhārthaṁ
sa bhavatu me bhagavān gatir mukundaḥ
- kṣataja-paripluta - blood
- ātatāyino me - agression
- When arrows were being thrown by Bhisma at Arjuna, some including splinters came onto krishna resulting into blood.
- Bhisma offered arrows as his prayers like how a devotee may offer flowers.
- Bhisma offers obeisances onto that Krishna who accepted his arrows.
- For us in mel. it is natural to see the dieties in the mahaprabhu mandir.
Text 39
We all have a sva-rupa - form with which that the lord has created us - Not material but in spiritual - peacocks, rocks, hands, sweat, tree of krishna - something. We have taken so many forms, sometimes even as demigods or as demons - except finally once he will finally reveal our sva-rupa. Krishna is merciful, so actually in kurukshetra, all died in front of him got salvation and got to know their sva-rupa.
Text 40
lalita-gati-vilāsa-valguhāsa-
praṇaya-nirīkṣaṇa-kalpitorumānāḥ
kṛtam anukṛtavatya unmadāndhāḥ
prakṛtim agan kila yasya gopa-vadhvaḥ
- The way Krishna walks and smiles is sweet - everything about Krishna is sweet. The gopis find everything sweet.
- Gears have changed from partha-sarathy krishna to gopi-krishna.
- Gopis became highest devotees by following and continuous contemplation of krishna.
Text 41
- In front of the kings and yudistir maharaj and the great sages, arahanam - worship to krishna was being conducted out of all the ones who are present - because he is the SPOG. Bhīṣmadeva saw it and calls it as his fortune. To that Krishna I offer my worship.
- mama - myself. Drishi - sight.
Text 42
- That krishna who is in fron to me is in everybody simultaneously.
- Arka netra - shining sun - but that is present everywhere.
- samadhi - total absoption. One can be walking talking sleeping but absorbed in Krishna.
- My illusion is completely gone - nothing else no other attachments.
- Bhismadeva said: In that samadhi, I would like to do something Verse 43
Text 43
Mind words vision action - all absorbed in Krishna, in that state, the bhishmadeva who had iccha-shakti to leave life left his life in that conciusness of krishna.
Text 44
- Birds sleep at the end of the day to sleep. It is not the end. For ignorant ones, they may think that Bhishma-deva has ended. Devotees know that it is now a new beingnning. Never a full-stop but it is a comma.
Text 45
These drums are now beaten - demigods humans. Flowers are being dropped from the sky. In other words, it is celebration.
Text 46
Yudistir conducted the final rites for Bhishmadeva. In particular muhurtha, yudistir was aggreived with the departure.
Text 47
No artificial grieving, be natural. Lament and get over it and come back to KC.
Text 48
Sutagosvami describes gandhari as a tapasvi - a great ascetic - alothough not a devotee. No less than Bhismadeva as character.
Text 49
Approved by Dhritarastra Krishna conferred it. Ruled with Dharma. In accordance of the good deeds as of the forefathers and ancestors.
Summary re-made from 33 - 49
🙏 Bhīṣmadeva’s Final Moments and Departure
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.9.32–49 — Full Summary
Text 32 Summary – Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.9.32
Bhīṣmadeva expresses his resolve to direct his thinking, feeling, and willing—which were previously absorbed in worldly responsibilities—toward Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the all-powerful and self-satisfied Supreme Lord. Although Kṛṣṇa has no need for material engagement, He lovingly descends into the world to lead and give pleasure to His devotees, even though the material world itself emanates from Him.
🟦 33 – Kṛṣṇa’s Form as the Object of Attraction
Bhīṣma meditates on the all-attractive form of Kṛṣṇa—bluish like the tamāla tree, with yellow garments and a lotus-like face adorned with sandalwood. He prays to focus on this divine vision instead of worldly desires.
🏇 34 – Battlefield Beauty
During the war, Kṛṣṇa’s dusty hair, sweating face, and body wounded by Bhīṣma’s arrows appeared even more beautiful. Bhīṣma remembers Him not with guilt but with affectionate reverence.
👁️ 35 – Glance of Compassion
Kṛṣṇa reduced the lifespan of the enemy soldiers simply through His merciful glance, moving between armies to support Arjuna. Bhīṣma wants to meditate on this act of divine mercy.
📜 36 – Gītā’s Divine Message
When Arjuna was bewildered, Kṛṣṇa removed his ignorance by speaking the Bhagavad-gītā. Bhīṣma worships the Lord’s lotus feet, which carry transcendental knowledge.
🛡️ 37 – Breaker of His Own Promise
Kṛṣṇa broke His vow not to fight, charging Bhīṣma with a chariot wheel to protect Arjuna. Bhīṣma cherishes this act of loving protection.
🩷 38 – Joyfully Accepting Wounds
Though wounded by Bhīṣma’s arrows, Kṛṣṇa accepted them joyfully—revealing His intimate reciprocation with His devotee.
🧠 39 – Final Meditation at Death
Bhīṣma fixes his mind on Kṛṣṇa as Arjuna’s charioteer, holding whip and reins, protecting the chariot. Witnessing Him in this form granted liberation to many.
🌺 40 – Attractor of Vraja’s Gopīs
Kṛṣṇa’s loving gestures and smile once enchanted the gopīs of Vṛndāvana. Bhīṣma reflects on this charming aspect of the Lord.
🏛️ 41 – Worship at the Rājasūya Sacrifice
Bhīṣma recalls the Rājasūya-yajña, where Kṛṣṇa was worshiped by all the elite of the world as the Supreme Person. This memory helps him fix his mind on Kṛṣṇa.
☀️ 42 – Beyond Duality
Now transcending all dualities, Bhīṣma meditates fully on the one Lord present before him. Like the one sun seen differently by many, Kṛṣṇa resides in everyone’s heart equally.
🕊️ 43 – Bhīṣma Leaves His Body
Bhīṣma merges his consciousness into Lord Kṛṣṇa, withdrawing his senses and activities. His breath stops, and he passes away in perfect remembrance.
🌌 44 – Silence of the Assembly
All those present become silent and contemplative, just like birds at sunset, realizing that Bhīṣma has entered eternal union with the Supreme.
🥁 45 – Celestial Celebration
Drums are sounded in both heaven and earth, royal honors are performed, and flowers shower from the sky in tribute to Bhīṣma’s glorious departure.
⚱️ 46 – Funeral and Grief
Yudhiṣṭhira performs the funeral rites for Bhīṣma. Despite his spiritual understanding, he is momentarily overcome with grief at the loss of his grand-uncle.
No artifical grieving, be natural. Lament and get over it and come back to KC.
🕉️ 47 – Sages Glorify the Lord
The assembled sages chant confidential Vedic hymns glorifying Kṛṣṇa. Then they return to their hermitages, carrying Kṛṣṇa always within their hearts. No artifical grieving, be natural. Lament and get over it and come back to KC. Not just belly, but topup the heart at the temple, from festivals.
🏰 48 – Return to the Capital
Yudhiṣṭhira returns to Hastināpura with Kṛṣṇa and offers comfort to Gāndhārī and Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who are now in a renounced state of life.
👑 49 – Dharmic Rule Under Kṛṣṇa’s Guidance
Yudhiṣṭhira rules the kingdom strictly in line with Vedic principles, guided by the wisdom of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and affirmed by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.
🕉️ Essence of Verses 33–49:
Bhīṣma's departure is the perfect example of dying in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, attained through lifelong devotion, valor, and transcendental wisdom. After his passing, nature, sages, and even the heavens honor his exit. The kingdom continues peacefully under Yudhiṣṭhira, with Lord Kṛṣṇa as the divine guide and well-wisher of the Pāṇḍavas.