||Srimad Bhagavath
Mahapuran||
||Om Namo Bhagavathe
Vasudevaya||
Chapter – 31 – Yudhishtira’s
grief and Bhishmopadhesham
Krishna entered the
palace and found Yudhishtira in utter grief.
Krishna enquired the reason for his gloominess. Yudhishtira replied “ Oh! Krishna, whenever I
see the widows, elderly people, and children in our Kingdom, I feel extremely
miserable, I have caused the death of several warriors to fulfill my desire to the
throne. I am not feeling comfortable
after the battle of Kurukshetra, the victory is not giving me any happiness,
and I feel I am responsible for the sorrows of all those people who lost their
lives on the battlefield. My greed to the throne took innumerable lives and made their dependents grieve over them.” Krishna realized Yudhishtira needs a preceptor to describe
the Dharma, not a friend, he needs someone who is elderly to advise him about the Dharma. Krishna pacified Yudhishtira that he is not responsible for any of the disastrous events that took place on the battlefield, as a friend he has already advised the Gita which is the essence of scriptures, but they have not understood it thoroughly. Moreover, Bhishma Pithamaha is waiting on the bed of arrows to finish
Dhakshinayana, so Krishna decided to take the Pandavas to Bhishma Pithamaha.
Bhishma Pithamaha looked at
Arjun and asked “ Arjun, why did you come? Where is your charioteer?” Krishna
instantly came forward and stood near his face and asked “ Pithamaha! Did you
remember me?’ Bhishma Pithamaha who was in the bed of arrows was extremely worn out, he heartily greeted Krishna and began to speak “ Oh! Arjun, Do you know who
is this Krishna?’ Arjun said, “ Pithamaha, he is my beloved uncle Vasudev’s son”. Bhishma Pithamaha continued “ Arjun, you have
assumed him as your uncle’s son, Subhadhra’s brother and your brother-in-law,
he was your preceptor and advised glorious Bhagavad Gita in the battlefield, he
assisted you in the Kurukshetra war as your charioteer, he is your closest companion to whom you can
share all your family matters, but you have not understood him thoroughly. Oh! Prabho, Krishna kindly fulfill my last
wish, I was waiting for all these days
to get a glimpse of you, therefore it is your turn to wait for me until I take
last breathe.” Bhishma Pithamaha had a
boon to die as per his wish/Sweccha Mrithyu, he was waited in the bed of arrows
until the Dhakshinaya to get over, and even the Lord Yama was not possible to
take his life. Bhishma Pithamaha advised
the righteousness and all the queries of Yudhishtira were answered. He eulogized the thousand and
eight sacred names of Lord and said “ Oh! Prabho, Krishna, I have a final
desire, kindly accept my young maiden as your bride.” Krishna laughed and said “
Pithamaha, you are a Naishtika Bhramachari, where did she come as a daughter of you?”
Pithamaha said “ Krishna, my intellect is my daughter, I did not place anyone
on my intellect other you. I have not
found any suitable groom as you for my daughter, therefore kindly accept my
intellect as your wife.” Krishna asked “
What are the qualities of your daughter?” Bhishma Pithamaha said “she is void
of Thrishna/impurities, she has no attachment towards material welfare/
sacrificed the throne of the Kingdom of Hasthinapur, she has no love for offspring/remained unmarried,
and she has no love for fame or appreciation.
Therefore she is qualified to become your bride. You have discarded the vow on the battlefield
and lifted the wheel of the chariot to attack me; you are too kind to me. I shall take surrender at your lotus feet.”
Thus the Uththarayana has
arrived, Bhishma Pithamaha looked at the pleasing face of Lord Krishna and let
his mortal coil, the deities showered flowers upon him and attained Moksha. He became one of the great devotees of Lord /Bhagavatha, and others are Swayambu, Shambhu, Narada, Sanath Kumaras, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, Janaka and
Bali. Krishna and Arjuna returned to
Dwaraka.
