|| Srimad Bhagavath
Mahapuran||
|| Om Namo Bhagavathe
Vasudevaya||
Chapter – 11 – Bhishma
Pithamaha attains union with the Supreme Lord
The great epic Mahabharath
Anushasanika Parva describes the Dharma elaborately. It narrates the Dharma of Varna and Ashrama and various Dharmic rites in 8000 verses. Pithamaha explained all those Dharma to the Pandavas and
sages assembled, even after listening to those Yudhishtira was not satisfied,
he was following the rites of his ancestors. He was in a dilemma whether he
should follow the rites in practices or should follow the one narrated by
Pithamaha. Therefore he requested
Pithamaha to narrate the essence of all those eight thousand verses described. Bhishma Pithamaha
continued “ Oh! Yudhishtira, Bhramins who meticulously follow the Vedic and spiritual
rites should be highly honored, provide them with necessary ingredients for the
performance of religious as well as spiritual tasks, keep them comfortable,
provide them accommodations, an abundance of contributions, charities, and cows.” Yudhishtira replied “Oh! Pithamaha,
we are performing all those Dharmic rites abundantly. Kindly describe anything I should know.” Bhishma Pithamaha replied “ I don’t know about any
Dharma that is superior to the veneration of Brahmin.
The Kingdom where cows and Bhramins are worshiped will not face any
natural calamities or famine or disasters.”
Draupadi was laughing while
Bhishma Pithamaha was giving elaborate lectures on righteousness. Pithamaha understood that Dhraupadi who is
from a superior clan will not laugh without any reason, therefore enquired the
reason for it. Draupadi said, “ You have
been giving lectures on Dharma for a while, where was your Dharma when I was
humiliated in the large assembly of Kauravas by Duryodhana and Dhusshasana?”
Bhishma Pithamaha said “ Oh! Daughter, I was eating the meal served in the
house of Duryodhan, it polluted my intellect.
Now, all those impure blood has drained out from my body with the shot
of arrow of Arjun, therefore I could speak of Dharma. There is no Dharma superior to surrendering
to the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Krishna and contemplate upon him, cultivation
of pure love to supreme Lord is the superior Dharma.”
Yudhishtira asked “ Oh!
Pithamaha, kindly narrate which hymn is promising for all the living beings? Which
should be recited for getting relieved from worldly bondage, miseries and
sorrows of worldly existence and liberation from repeated births?” Bhishma
Pithamaha described the glorious thousands and eight names of Lord Vishnu
looking at Krishna.
Finally, the moment of
Bhishma Pithamaha’s death has arrived as he was obtained ‘Sweccha Mrithyu’/death
according to one’s own wish, he could leave mortal coil as he wished. The auspicious moment has arrived, he said “Oh!
Krishna, I have a young maiden like my intellect, which is never willing to
accept anyone other than you, I wish to offer her for the service at your lotus
feet, the death is exceedingly painful as two thousand scorpions bite on the
fragile body, I want to transfix my intellect upon you, so that I will be saved
from the hellish pain of transition.”
Thus Bhishma Pithamaha attained union with the supreme Bhramam. The illustrious sages and Rishis assembled were offered salutation, the celestials showered flowers on Bhishma Pithamaha. Krishna took leave to Dwaraka was accompanied
by Arjun who stayed for a few months in Dwaraka and returned to Hastinapura.
