The Passing Away of Bhishmadeva in the Presence of Lord Krishna

Verse 1 (bhagavata.1.9.1)

सूत उवाच इति भीतः प्रजाद्रोहात्सर्वधर्मविवित्सया । ततो विनशनं प्रागाद् यत्र देवव्रतोऽपतत् ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca iti bhītaḥ prajā-drohāt sarva-dharma-vivitsayā tato vinaśanaṁ prāgād yatra deva-vrato ’patat

Suta said: Fearing thus the sin of having harmed his subjects, and wishing to learn the whole of dharma, Yudhishthira then went to Vinashana, where Devavrata [Bhishma] lay.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.1.9.2)

तदा ते भ्रातरः सर्वे सदश्वैः स्वर्णभूषितैः । अन्वगच्छन् रथैर्विप्रा व्यासधौम्यादयस्तथा ॥ २ ॥

tadā te bhrātaraḥ sarve sadaśvaiḥ svarṇa-bhūṣitaiḥ anvagacchan rathair viprā vyāsa-dhaumyādayas tathā

All his brothers followed him then, on chariots drawn by fine gold-adorned horses, and with them the brahmins — Vyasa, Dhaumya and others.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.1.9.3)

भगवानपि विप्रर्षे रथेन सधनञ्जयः । स तैर्व्यरोचत नृपः कुवेर इव गुह्यकैः ॥ ३ ॥

bhagavān api viprarṣe rathena sa-dhanañjayaḥ sa tair vyarocata nṛpaḥ kuvera iva guhyakaiḥ

O sage among brahmins, the Lord too came, sharing a chariot with Dhananjaya [Arjuna]; and thus surrounded, the King shone forth like Kuvera amid his Guhyakas.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.1.9.4)

दृष्ट्वा निपतितं भूमौ दिवश्च्युतमिवामरम् । प्रणेमुः पाण्डवा भीष्मं सानुगाः सह चक्रिणा ॥ ४ ॥

dṛṣṭvā nipatitaṁ bhūmau divaś cyutam ivāmaram praṇemuḥ pāṇḍavā bhīṣmaṁ sānugāḥ saha cakriṇā

Seeing him lying upon the ground like a god fallen from heaven, the Pandavas, with their younger brothers and together with the wielder of the discus, bowed down before Bhishma.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.1.9.5)

तत्र ब्रह्मर्षयः सर्वे देवर्षयश्च सत्तम । राजर्षयश्च तत्रासन् द्रष्टुं भरतपुङ्गवम् ॥ ५ ॥

tatra brahmarṣayaḥ sarve devarṣayaś ca sattama rājarṣayaś ca tatrāsan draṣṭuṁ bharata-puṅgavam

O most virtuous one, there had gathered all the brahmarshis, the devarshis and the rajarshis, come to behold that foremost of the Bharata line.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.1.9.6)

पर्वतो नारदो धौम्यो भगवान् बादरायणः । बृहदश्वो भरद्वाजः सशिष्यो रेणुकासुतः ॥ ६ ॥

parvato nārado dhaumyo bhagavān bādarāyaṇaḥ bṛhadaśvo bharadvājaḥ saśiṣyo reṇukā-sutaḥ

Parvata, Narada, Dhaumya, the illustrious Badarayana [Vyasa], Brihadashva, Bharadvaja, and Renuka's son [Parashurama] with his disciples;

Verse 7 (bhagavata.1.9.7)

वसिष्ठ इन्द्रप्रमदस्त्रितो गृत्समदोऽसितः । कक्षीवान् गौतमोऽत्रिश्च कौशिकोऽथ सुदर्शनः ॥ ७ ॥

vasiṣṭha indrapramadas trito gṛtsamado ’sitaḥ kakṣīvān gautamo ’triś ca kauśiko ’tha sudarśanaḥ

Vasishtha, Indrapramada, Trita, Gritsamada, Asita, Kakshivan, Gautama, Atri, Kaushika, and Sudarshana too — all were present.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.1.9.8)

अन्ये च मुनयो ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मरातादयोऽमलाः । शिष्यैरुपेता आजग्मुः कश्यपाङ्गिरसादयः ॥ ८ ॥

anye ca munayo brahman brahmarātādayo ’malāḥ śiṣyair upetā ājagmuḥ kaśyapāṅgirasādayaḥ

O brahmin, other sages too came, purified souls like Brahmarata [Shukadeva] and others, and Kashyapa, Angiras and their kind, accompanied by their disciples.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.1.9.9)

तान् समेतान् महाभागानुपलभ्य वसूत्तमः । पूजयामास धर्मज्ञो देशकालविभागवित् ॥ ९ ॥

tān sametān mahā-bhāgān upalabhya vasūttamaḥ pūjayām āsa dharma-jño deśa-kāla-vibhāgavit

Beholding all these greatly blessed souls thus assembled, that best of the Vasus, knowing dharma and skilled in what suits time and place, gave them due honour.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.1.9.10)

कृष्णं च तत्प्रभावज्ञ आसीनं जगदीश्वरम् । हृदिस्थं पूजयामास माययोपात्तविग्रहम् ॥ १० ॥

kṛṣṇaṁ ca tat-prabhāva-jña āsīnaṁ jagad-īśvaram hṛdi-sthaṁ pūjayām āsa māyayopātta-vigraham

And knowing His glory, he honoured Krishna too, who sat there, the Lord of the universe dwelling within the heart, who had assumed this form by His own divine power.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.1.9.11)

पाण्डुपुत्रानुपासीनान् प्रश्रयप्रेमसङ्गतान् । अभ्याचष्टानुरागाश्रैरन्धीभूतेन चक्षुषा ॥ ११ ॥

pāṇḍu-putrān upāsīnān praśraya-prema-saṅgatān abhyācaṣṭānurāgāśrair andhībhūtena cakṣuṣā

To the sons of Pandu seated nearby, held close in reverence and love, he spoke with feeling, his eyes blinded by tears of affection.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.1.9.12)

अहो कष्टमहोऽन्याय्यं यद्यूयं धर्मनन्दनाः । जीवितुं नार्हथ क्लिष्टं विप्रधर्माच्युताश्रयाः ॥ १२ ॥

aho kaṣṭam aho ’nyāyyaṁ yad yūyaṁ dharma-nandanāḥ jīvituṁ nārhatha kliṣṭaṁ vipra-dharmācyutāśrayāḥ

Bhishma said: Alas, what suffering, what injustice, that you, sons of Dharma himself, protected as you are by brahmins, righteousness and the Infallible, should have had to endure such affliction merely to live!

Verse 13 (bhagavata.1.9.13)

संस्थितेऽतिरथे पाण्डौ पृथा बालप्रजा वधूः । युष्मत्कृते बहून् क्लेशान् प्राप्ता तोकवती मुहुः ॥ १३ ॥

saṁsthite ’tirathe pāṇḍau pṛthā bāla-prajā vadhūḥ yuṣmat-kṛte bahūn kleśān prāptā tokavatī muhuḥ

After the great warrior Pandu passed away, my daughter-in-law Pritha, left with young children, endured hardship again and again for your sake, even after you had grown to manhood.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.1.9.14)

सर्वं कालकृतं मन्ये भवतां च यदप्रियम् । सपालो यद्वशे लोको वायोरिव घनावलिः ॥ १४ ॥

sarvaṁ kāla-kṛtaṁ manye bhavatāṁ ca yad-apriyam sapālo yad-vaśe loko vāyor iva ghanāvaliḥ

I hold that all this — even what has been unpleasant for you — is the doing of time alone, under whose sway the whole world, rulers included, moves like a line of clouds driven by the wind.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.1.9.15)

यत्र धर्मसुतो राजा गदापाणिर्वृकोदरः । कृष्णोऽस्त्री गाण्डिवं चापं सुहृत्कृष्णस्ततो विपत् ॥ १५ ॥

yatra dharma-suto rājā gadā-pāṇir vṛkodaraḥ kṛṣṇo ’strī gāṇḍivaṁ cāpaṁ suhṛt kṛṣṇas tato vipat

Where Dharma's own son reigns as king, where Vrikodara wields his mace, where Arjuna bears his Gandiva bow, and Krishna Himself is your friend — that misfortune should still befall you there is wonder indeed.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.1.9.16)

न ह्यस्य कर्हिचिद्राजन् पुमान् वेद विधित्सितम् । यद्विजिज्ञासया युक्ता मुह्यन्ति कवयोऽपि हि ॥ १६ ॥

na hy asya karhicid rājan pumān veda vidhitsitam yad vijijñāsayā yuktā muhyanti kavayo ’pi hi

O King, no one can ever know His intention; even the wise, applying their fullest inquiry, are left bewildered by it.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.1.9.17)

तस्मादिदं दैवतन्त्रं व्यवस्य भरतर्षभ । तस्यानुविहितोऽनाथा नाथ पाहि प्रजाः प्रभो ॥ १७ ॥

tasmād idaṁ daiva-tantraṁ vyavasya bharatarṣabha tasyānuvihito ’nāthā nātha pāhi prajāḥ prabho

Therefore, O best of Bharatas, accept that all this rests under divine control; being thus appointed by Him, O lord, now protect these helpless subjects of yours.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.1.9.18)

एष वै भगवान्साक्षादाद्यो नारायणः पुमान् । मोहयन्मायया लोकं गूढश्चरति वृष्णिषु ॥ १८ ॥

eṣa vai bhagavān sākṣād ādyo nārāyaṇaḥ pumān mohayan māyayā lokaṁ gūḍhaś carati vṛṣṇiṣu

This one here is truly the Supreme Lord Himself, the primeval Narayana, moving unrecognised among the Vrishnis, bewildering the world by His own divine power.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.1.9.19)

अस्यानुभावं भगवान् वेद गुह्यतमं शिवः । देवर्षिर्नारदः साक्षाद्भगवान् कपिलो नृप ॥ १९ ॥

asyānubhāvaṁ bhagavān veda guhyatamaṁ śivaḥ devarṣir nāradaḥ sākṣād bhagavān kapilo nṛpa

O King, His most secret glory is known to the great lord Shiva, to the celestial sage Narada, and directly to Kapila, the Lord Himself.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.1.9.20)

यं मन्यसे मातुलेयं प्रियं मित्रं सुहृत्तमम् । अकरोः सचिवं दूतं सौहृदादथ सारथिम् ॥ २० ॥

yaṁ manyase mātuleyaṁ priyaṁ mitraṁ suhṛttamam akaroḥ sacivaṁ dūtaṁ sauhṛdād atha sārathim

The one you have regarded as merely your maternal cousin, a dear friend and truest well-wisher, whom out of affection you made your counsellor, messenger and charioteer —

Verse 21 (bhagavata.1.9.21)

सर्वात्मनः समदृशो ह्यद्वयस्यानहङ्कृतेः । तत्कृतं मतिवैषम्यं निरवद्यस्य न क्वचित् ॥ २१ ॥

sarvātmanaḥ sama-dṛśo hy advayasyānahaṅkṛteḥ tat-kṛtaṁ mati-vaiṣamyaṁ niravadyasya na kvacit

— He is the self of all, seeing all with equal eye, non-dual, free of false ego; nothing He does could ever bear the taint of partiality, for He is beyond all fault.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.1.9.22)

तथाप्येकान्तभक्तेषु पश्य भूपानुकम्पितम् । यन्मेऽसूंस्त्यजतः साक्षात्कृष्णो दर्शनमागतः ॥ २२ ॥

tathāpy ekānta-bhakteṣu paśya bhūpānukampitam yan me ’sūṁs tyajataḥ sākṣāt kṛṣṇo darśanam āgataḥ

And yet, O King, see how compassionate He is toward His unswerving devotees — for even as I now give up my life, Krishna has come here Himself, in person, to grant me His sight.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.1.9.23)

भक्त्यावेश्य मनो यस्मिन् वाचा यन्नाम कीर्तयन् । त्यजन् कलेवरं योगी मुच्यते कामकर्मभिः ॥ २३ ॥

bhaktyāveśya mano yasmin vācā yan-nāma kīrtayan tyajan kalevaraṁ yogī mucyate kāma-karmabhiḥ

The yogi who fixes his mind upon Him in devotion, chanting His name with his voice, and thus gives up his body, is released from the bondage of desire-driven action.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.1.9.24)

स देवदेवो भगवान् प्रतीक्षतां कलेवरं यावदिदं हिनोम्यहम् । प्रसन्नहासारुणलोचनोल्लस- न्मुखाम्बुजो ध्यानपथश्चतुर्भुजः ॥ २४ ॥

sa deva-devo bhagavān pratīkṣatāṁ kalevaraṁ yāvad idaṁ hinomy aham prasanna-hāsāruṇa-locanollasan- mukhāmbujo dhyāna-pathaś catur-bhujaḥ

May that Lord of lords, whose lotus face, smiling gently, radiant with eyes red as dawn, and four-armed, remains fixed upon the path of my meditation, wait for me until I give up this body.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.1.9.25)

सूत उवाच युधिष्ठिरस्तदाकर्ण्य शयानं शरपञ्जरे । अपृच्छद्विविधान्धर्मानृषीणां चानुशृण्वताम् ॥ २५ ॥

sūta uvāca yudhiṣṭhiras tad ākarṇya śayānaṁ śara-pañjare apṛcchad vividhān dharmān ṛṣīṇāṁ cānuśṛṇvatām

Suta said: Hearing this from Bhishma as he lay upon that cage of arrows, Yudhishthira, with the sages listening on, asked him about the many varieties of dharma.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.1.9.26)

पुरुषस्वभावविहितान् यथावर्णं यथाश्रमम् । वैराग्यरागोपाधिभ्यामाम्नातोभयलक्षणान् ॥ २६ ॥

puruṣa-sva-bhāva-vihitān yathā-varṇaṁ yathāśramam vairāgya-rāgopādhibhyām āmnātobhaya-lakṣaṇān

He described those duties ordained by each man's own nature, according to caste and stage of life, marked in their twofold nature by detachment on one side and attachment on the other.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.1.9.27)

दानधर्मान् राजधर्मान् मोक्षधर्मान् विभागशः । स्त्रीधर्मान् भगवद्धर्मान् समासव्यासयोगतः ॥ २७ ॥

dāna-dharmān rāja-dharmān mokṣa-dharmān vibhāgaśaḥ strī-dharmān bhagavad-dharmān samāsa-vyāsa-yogataḥ

He set forth, category by category, the duties of charity, the duties of kings, the duties leading to liberation, the duties of women, and the duties pertaining to the Lord's devotees — briefly and then at length.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.1.9.28)

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षांश्च सहोपायान् यथा मुने । नानाख्यानेतिहासेषु वर्णयामास तत्त्ववित् ॥ २८ ॥

dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṁś ca sahopāyān yathā mune nānākhyānetihāseṣu varṇayām āsa tattvavit

O sage, that knower of truth then described dharma, artha, kama and moksha along with their means, illustrating each with various tales drawn from history.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.1.9.29)

धर्मं प्रवदतस्तस्य स कालः प्रत्युपस्थितः । यो योगिनश्छन्दमृत्योर्वाञ्छितस्तूत्तरायणः ॥ २९ ॥

dharmaṁ pravadatas tasya sa kālaḥ pratyupasthitaḥ yo yoginaś chanda-mṛtyor vāñchitas tūttarāyaṇaḥ

As he spoke thus of dharma, that very hour arrived which yogis who can choose the time of their death long for — the sun's turning into its northern course.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.1.9.30)

तदोपसंहृत्य गिरः सहस्रणी- र्विमुक्तसङ्गं मन आदिपूरुषे । कृष्णे लसत्पीतपटे चतुर्भुजे पुरःस्थितेऽमीलितदृग्व्यधारयत् ॥ ३० ॥

tadopasaṁhṛtya giraḥ sahasraṇīr vimukta-saṅgaṁ mana ādi-pūruṣe kṛṣṇe lasat-pīta-paṭe catur-bhuje puraḥ sthite ’mīlita-dṛg vyadhārayat

Then that commander of a thousand hosts fell silent, and, his mind now freed of all attachment, fixed his wide-open gaze upon the primal Person, four-armed Krishna, standing before him in glittering yellow garments.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.1.9.31)

विशुद्धया धारणया हताशुभ- स्तदीक्षयैवाशु गतायुधश्रमः । निवृत्तसर्वेन्द्रियवृत्तिविभ्रम- स्तुष्टाव जन्यं विसृजञ्जनार्दनम् ॥ ३१ ॥

viśuddhayā dhāraṇayā hatāśubhas tad-īkṣayaivāśu gatā-yudha-śramaḥ nivṛtta-sarvendriya-vṛtti-vibhramas tuṣṭāva janyaṁ visṛjañ janārdanam

Purified by that unstained concentration and by that mere sight, his inauspiciousness destroyed and the fatigue of battle instantly gone, his senses withdrawn from all their wandering activity, he began to praise Janardana while releasing his mortal body.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.1.9.32)

श्रीभीष्म उवाच इति मतिरुपकल्पिता वितृष्णा भगवति सात्वतपुङ्गवे विभूम्नि । स्वसुखमुपगते क्वचिद्विहर्तुं प्रकृतिमुपेयुषि यद्भवप्रवाहः ॥ ३२ ॥

śrī-bhīṣma uvāca iti matir upakalpitā vitṛṣṇā bhagavati sātvata-puṅgave vibhūmni sva-sukham upagate kvacid vihartuṁ prakṛtim upeyuṣi yad-bhava-pravāhaḥ

Sri Bhishma said: Thus, freed of all craving, let my mind now be devoted to the mighty Lord, foremost of the Yadus, who ever rests in His own bliss yet sometimes descends into material nature for the sport of it — He from whom this ceaseless flow of creation proceeds.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.1.9.33)

त्रिभुवनकमनं तमालवर्णं रविकरगौरवराम्बरं दधाने । वपुरलककुलावृताननाब्जं विजयसखे रतिरस्तु मेऽनवद्या ॥ ३३ ॥

tri-bhuvana-kamanaṁ tamāla-varṇaṁ ravi-kara-gaura-vara-ambaraṁ dadhāne vapur alaka-kulāvṛtānanābjaṁ vijaya-sakhe ratir astu me ’navadyā

May my devotion, free of all desire for reward, rest upon Arjuna's friend — whose form, desired by all three worlds, is dark as the tamala tree, clothed in garments golden as the sun's rays, His lotus face framed by curling locks of hair.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.1.9.34)

युधि तुरगरजोविधूम्रविष्वक्- कचलुलितश्रमवार्यलङ्कृतास्ये । मम निशितशरैर्विभिद्यमान- त्वचि विलसत्कवचेऽस्तु कृष्ण आत्मा ॥ ३४ ॥

yudhi turaga-rajo-vidhūmra-viṣvak- kaca-lulita-śramavāry-alaṅkṛtāsye mama niśita-śarair vibhidyamāna- tvaci vilasat-kavace ’stu kṛṣṇa ātmā

Let my mind rest upon that Krishna — whose face on the battlefield was ashen with the dust of horses, whose scattered hair and sweat-beads adorned Him, and whose glowing armor was pierced through by my own sharp arrows, tearing at His skin.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.1.9.35)

सपदि सखिवचो निशम्य मध्ये निजपरयोर्बलयो रथं निवेश्य । स्थितवति परसैनिकायुरक्ष्णा हृतवति पार्थसखे रतिर्ममास्तु ॥ ३५ ॥

sapadi sakhi-vaco niśamya madhye nija-parayor balayo rathaṁ niveśya sthitavati para-sainikāyur akṣṇā hṛtavati pārtha-sakhe ratir mamāstu

Let my devotion rest on the friend of Partha, who at once, obeying His friend's word, drove the chariot between the two armies, and standing there, with a mere glance shortened the lifespan of the enemy soldiers.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.1.9.36)

व्यवहितपृतनामुखं निरीक्ष्य स्वजनवधाद्विमुखस्य दोषबुद्ध्या । कुमतिमहरदात्मविद्यया य- श्चरणरतिः परमस्य तस्य मेऽस्तु ॥ ३६ ॥

vyavahita-pṛtanā-mukhaṁ nirīkṣya sva-jana-vadhād vimukhasya doṣa-buddhyā kumatim aharad ātma-vidyayā yaś caraṇa-ratiḥ paramasya tasya me ’stu

May my devotion rest at the feet of that Supreme Being who, seeing Arjuna turn away from the ranks arrayed before him — reluctant, from a mistaken sense of fault, to slay his own kinsmen — dispelled his confused understanding through transcendental knowledge.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.1.9.37)

स्वनिगममपहाय मत्प्रतिज्ञा- मृतमधिकर्तुमवप्लुतो रथस्थः । धृतरथचरणोऽभ्ययाच्चलद्गु- र्हरिरिव हन्तुमिभं गतोत्तरीयः ॥ ३७ ॥

sva-nigamam apahāya mat-pratijñām ṛtam adhikartum avapluto rathasthaḥ dhṛta-ratha-caraṇo ’bhyayāc caladgur harir iva hantum ibhaṁ gatottarīyaḥ

Setting aside His own vow to keep my promise true, He leapt down from His chariot, seized its wheel, and rushed at me, His upper garment falling away, the earth trembling under His steps — like a lion charging to kill an elephant.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.1.9.38)

शितविशिखहतो विशीर्णदंशः क्षतजपरिप्लुत आततायिनो मे । प्रसभमभिससार मद्वधार्थं स भवतु मे भगवान् गतिर्मुकुन्दः ॥ ३८ ॥

śita-viśikha-hato viśīrṇa-daṁśaḥ kṣataja-paripluta ātatāyino me prasabham abhisasāra mad-vadhārthaṁ sa bhavatu me bhagavān gatir mukundaḥ

Wounded by my sharp arrows, His armor shattered, His body drenched in blood, that aggressor of mine came charging forcefully to slay me — may that very Bhagavan Mukunda be my final refuge.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.1.9.39)

विजयरथकुटुम्ब आत्ततोत्रे धृतहयरश्मिनि तच्छ्रियेक्षणीये । भगवति रतिरस्तु मे मुमूर्षो- र्यमिह निरीक्ष्य हता गताः स्वरूपम् ॥ ३९ ॥

vijaya-ratha-kuṭumbha ātta-totre dhṛta-haya-raśmini tac-chriyekṣaṇīye bhagavati ratir astu me mumūrṣor yam iha nirīkṣya hatā gatāḥ sva-rūpam

As I am about to die, let my devotion rest upon the Lord, guardian of Arjuna's chariot, whip in hand, reins holding the horses, glorious to behold — He, on looking at whom even those slain here attained their true form.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.1.9.40)

ललितगतिविलासवल्गुहास- प्रणयनिरीक्षणकल्पितोरुमानाः । कृतमनुकृतवत्य उन्मदान्धाः प्रकृतिमगन् किल यस्य गोपवध्वः ॥ ४० ॥

lalita-gati-vilāsa-valguhāsa- praṇaya-nirīkṣaṇa-kalpitorumānāḥ kṛtam anukṛtavatya unmadāndhāḥ prakṛtim agan kila yasya gopa-vadhvaḥ

Let my mind be fixed on Him whose graceful movements, playful acts, sweet smiles and loving glances so enraptured the gopis that, maddened with love, they imitated His every gesture as though it were their own nature.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.1.9.41)

मुनिगणनृपवर्यसङ्कुलेऽन्तः सदसि युधिष्ठिरराजसूय एषाम् । अर्हणमुपपेद ईक्षणीयो मम दृशिगोचर एष आविरात्मा ॥ ४१ ॥

muni-gaṇa-nṛpa-varya-saṅkule ’ntaḥ- sadasi yudhiṣṭhira-rājasūya eṣām arhaṇam upapeda īkṣaṇīyo mama dṛśi-gocara eṣa āvir ātmā

In the great assembly of sages and eminent kings gathered at Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice, He alone received the honoured worship of all — that very Supreme Self now stands manifest before my eyes.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.1.9.42)

तमिममहमजं शरीरभाजां हृदि हृदि धिष्ठितमात्मकल्पितानाम् । प्रतिदृशमिव नैकधार्कमेकं समधिगतोऽस्मि विधूतभेदमोहः ॥ ४२ ॥

tam imam aham ajaṁ śarīra-bhājāṁ hṛdi hṛdi dhiṣṭhitam ātma-kalpitānām pratidṛśam iva naikadhārkam ekaṁ samadhi-gato ’smi vidhūta-bheda-mohaḥ

That unborn One, present now before me, dwelling within the heart of every embodied being, imagined by speculators as many — as the one sun appears many to many onlookers — Him I have now attained in trance, freed from the delusion of difference.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.1.9.43)

सूत उवाच कृष्ण एवं भगवति मनोवाग्दृष्टिवृत्तिभिः । आत्मन्यात्मानमावेश्य सोऽन्तःश्वास उपारमत् ॥ ४३ ॥

sūta uvāca kṛṣṇa evaṁ bhagavati mano-vāg-dṛṣṭi-vṛttibhiḥ ātmany ātmānam āveśya so ’ntaḥśvāsa upāramat

Suta said: Thus, having merged his mind, speech, sight and every faculty into the Lord Krishna, the Supreme Self, he grew silent, his breath ceasing within.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.1.9.44)

सम्पद्यमानमाज्ञाय भीष्मं ब्रह्मणि निष्कले । सर्वे बभूवुस्ते तूष्णीं वयांसीव दिनात्यये ॥ ४४ ॥

sampadyamānam ājñāya bhīṣmaṁ brahmaṇi niṣkale sarve babhūvus te tūṣṇīṁ vayāṁsīva dinātyaye

Knowing that Bhishma had merged into the undivided Brahman, all present there fell silent, like birds at the close of day.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.1.9.45)

तत्र दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्देवमानववादिताः । शशंसुः साधवो राज्ञां खात्पेतुः पुष्पवृष्टयः ॥ ४५ ॥

tatra dundubhayo nedur deva-mānava-vāditāḥ śaśaṁsuḥ sādhavo rājñāṁ khāt petuḥ puṣpa-vṛṣṭayaḥ

Then kettledrums resounded, beaten by both gods and men; the virtuous among the kings offered their praises, and showers of flowers fell from the sky.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.1.9.46)

तस्य निर्हरणादीनि सम्परेतस्य भार्गव । युधिष्ठिरः कारयित्वा मुहूर्तं दुःखितोऽभवत् ॥ ४६ ॥

tasya nirharaṇādīni samparetasya bhārgava yudhiṣṭhiraḥ kārayitvā muhūrtaṁ duḥkhito ’bhavat

O descendant of Bhrigu, having performed the funeral rites for that departed one, Yudhishthira remained sorrowful for a while.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.1.9.47)

तुष्टुवुर्मुनयो हृष्टाः कृष्णं तद्गुह्यनामभिः । ततस्ते कृष्णहृदयाः स्वाश्रमान् प्रययुः पुनः ॥ ४७ ॥

tuṣṭuvur munayo hṛṣṭāḥ kṛṣṇaṁ tad-guhya-nāmabhiḥ tatas te kṛṣṇa-hṛdayāḥ svāśramān prayayuḥ punaḥ

The joyful sages then praised Krishna with His most secret names, and thereafter, their hearts full of Krishna, returned once more to their own hermitages.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.1.9.48)

ततो युधिष्ठिरो गत्वा सहकृष्णो गजाह्वयम् । पितरं सान्त्वयामास गान्धारीं च तपस्विनीम् ॥ ४८ ॥

tato yudhiṣṭhiro gatvā saha-kṛṣṇo gajāhvayam pitaraṁ sāntvayām āsa gāndhārīṁ ca tapasvinīm

Then Yudhishthira, together with Krishna, went to Hastinapura and consoled his uncle, along with the ascetic Gandhari.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.1.9.49)

पित्रा चानुमतो राजा वासुदेवानुमोदितः । चकार राज्यं धर्मेण पितृपैतामहं विभुः ॥ ४९ ॥

pitrā cānumato rājā vāsudevānumoditaḥ cakāra rājyaṁ dharmeṇa pitṛ-paitāmahaṁ vibhuḥ

With his uncle's consent and confirmed by Vasudeva's son, the mighty King then ruled the ancestral kingdom of his fathers and forefathers according to dharma.