|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 35 – The legend of Lord Krishna – Bhishma Sthuthi

Ithi Mathirupakalpitha  Vithrushna  Bhagavathi Sathvatha Pungave Vibhumni | SwaSukhamupagathe Kvachithdhviharthum  Prakrithimupeyushi Yadh Bhavapravaha: || Thribhuvana Kamanam Thamalavarnnam Ravikara Gauravarambaram Dhadhane | Vapuralaka Kulavrithananabjam Vijayasakhe  Rathirasthumeanavadhya ||

Bhishma Pithamaha eulogizes “Oh! Bhagavan, I have already surrendered my mind and intellect upon the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in me, therefore the people whose mind and intellect have abandoned the material welfare would get relieved from miseries and sorrows of worldly existence and attain the supreme bliss.   The mind and intellect which is far from you, wrapped in taking pleasures in the worldly matters would go through the endless sufferings. Oh! Parththasarathe/Vijayasakhe, who has a marvelous appearance that entices the three worlds, attractive dark color complexion, attired in yellow silk garment, beautiful lustrous face and compassionate eyes, dark curly hair locks decorated in feathers of the peacock, I am taking extreme pleasure in that marvelous appearance of you.  Oh! Bhagavan, I could clearly witness that beautiful face drenched in the perspiration and dust raised from the hove of the horses from the battlefield, and the body armor rip opened by the shot of arrows, let my mind always take pleasure in that marvelous form of you. Oh! Parththasakha, you have driven the chariot at the request of Partha, and stood in the middle of the army of Pandavas and Kauravas, showered a majestic look around the armies, thus instantly you have killed the entire army with that look, let my mind take great pleasure in that glorious form of you. Oh! Bhagavan, when Arjuna lost his confidence watching the greatest warriors in the army, besieged with intense grief, expressed his mental confusion to you, he was expected to hear something he was desired from you, but you have raised his confidence with the Athmavidhya/supreme knowledge of the soul and in this way you have removed his ignorance, Let my mind take great pleasure in that supreme Lord. Oh! Bhagavan, your ocean like compassion touched my heart, you did not stick on to your promise to please your devotee in the battlefield, jumped out of the chariot and rushed to attack your opponent/me, holding the powerful disc in one hand and while chasing your upper clothe slipped out of your shoulder, that marvelous form I cannot forget.  Oh! Mukunda, I still remember that your glorious form as the charioteer of Arjuna, entering into the battlefield, let my mind take great pleasure in that marvelous appearance.  Oh! Bhagavan, the Vrajeshwari’s are truly fortunate ones, who discarded worldly affairs and took surrender at your lotus feet, they took great pleasure in that marvelous appearance and compassionate glances.  Oh! Bhagavan, Your marvelous appearance adorned in the magnificent crown, seated on the gem decorated throne on the occasion of Rajasuya Yagna conducted by Yudhishtara was participated by several thousand of rulers, Rishis, Sages, and Kings. Let my intellect take great pleasure in that most stunning appearance of you.  Oh! Bhagavan, let me get rid of the illusion of duality, let my mind and intellect merge with the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in me.” Thus, Bhishma Pithamaha took last breathe.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 34 – The legend of Lord Krishna – Bhishma Sthuthi

Yesha Vai Bhagavan Sakshath Adhya Narayana: Puman | Mohayan Mayaya Lokam Goodashcharathi Vrishnishu||

Bhishma Pithamaha continues “ Oh! Children, Krishna is Bhagavan, he is supreme Lord who is primordial, Narayana/Nara+Ayanam/resides in water = resides in the human body/creator, preserver, and destroyer/.  He has assumed the form of one of the Vrishni’s with his own Maya, to elevate the souls from miseries of the worldly existence, remove the darkness of ignorance and impurities in the souls and elevate the Jeeva to the state of bliss. Oh! Children, you have not realized him as a soul in you or never considered him as your preceptor. You have considered him as your Mathuleya/uncle’s son, Priyamithram/dearest companion, Dhootha/emissary, and Sarathi/charioteer, you have not realized him as a supreme soul in you and didn’t realize his impartial nature, and have no duality.  He has no one as beloved or enemy in this whole Universe, he is impartial and independent.”

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Shaunakadhis, Bhishmapithamaha imparted knowledge in Varna Ashrama Dharma, Dhana Dharma, Raja Dharma, Moksha Dharma, Sthree Dharma, Bhagavth Dharma, and the Purusharththa, Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha, and Ithihasa, thus Bhishma Pithamaha while waiting for the arrival of Uththarayana, lying on the bed of arrows taught the highest of philosophies to the Pandavas.  The time has arrived, Bhishma Pithamaha meditated upon Adipurusha, who is attired in marvelous yellow silk garment, dark cloud complexioned, four hands holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, Padma, and sung in praise of the supreme Lord Krisha.”

Bhishma Pithamaha while lying in the bed of arrows, he was not grieved or mentally shaken, had nothing to offer other than the supreme knowledge to the world.  He had no grievances or anxiousness, Yudhishtira who stood before Pithamaha was completely drenched in utter grief of past incidents took place in the battle of Kurukshetra. Bhishma Pithamaha describes the glorious thousands and one names of supreme Lord Vishnu who has all-pervasive nature as a soul in living beings, and various Dharmas to Yudhishtira.

Rishi Charaka pronounced  ‘Poorva Janmakritham Papam Vyadhiroopena Dhrishyathe’ most of the illnesses are related to the Karma of the previous births of Jeeva, he invented the Ayurveda Shastra which could cure almost all the physical illnesses of the living beings, still the afflictions related to mind and intellect remained incurable, later the Rishi  understood that the  practice of meditation and contemplation upon Supreme Lord is the possible way to get relieved from  all the redundant thoughts in the human mind.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 33 – The legend of Lord Krishna – Bhishma Sthuthi

Krishna with the Pandavas arrived on the war zone of Kurukshetra, witnessed Bhishma Pithamaha who was lying on the bed of arrows, his majestic posture resembled deity.  Krishna and Pandavas reverentially greeted him with folded hands.  Soon all the illustrious Rishis and Sages assembled in the Kurukshetra, there were Badarayana, Narada, Dhaumya, Bhrihadhvasha, Parvatha, Bharadhvaja, and his disciples, Parashurama, Vashishta, Indhra, Gauthama, Atri, Kaushika, Sudharshana, Grithsama, Bhramaratha along with his disciples, Kashyapa, Angira, etc.  Bhishma Pithamaha listened to the sounds of the chariot, looked through the corner of his eyes, and realized it was Krishna, he mentally offered salutation to the supreme Lord Krishna.  Bhishma Pithamaha worshiped Krishna as Jagatheeshwara who resides as a soul in living beings; he envisioned that glorious form of Krishna in his heart.  He saw Pandavas stood with folded hands; he closed his eyes overflowing with tears.  Dharmaputhra thought it was scorching heat and pain from the bed of arrows, brutal scene on the war zone, animals crazily flying over the corpse, burning funeral pyre, made Pithamaha shed tears. 

Bhishma Pithamaha spoke “Oh! Children, you are an extremely fortunate one to have Krishna with you; it is a great blessing that you have the safest heaven Acchyutha.  I feel sorry for you dear children, still, you are grieving over the incidents that happened.  Oh! Children, no one can override ‘Time’, that provides the fruit of Karma. Oh! Yudhishtira, you symbolize Dharma, Vrikodhara represents might, Arjuna is a great archer and no words to praise his Gandeevam and Nakula Sahadeva are prominent ones, leave all this aside, you have supreme Lord Krishna as your sincere companion, then why should you feel distressed? Oh! Children, you have not understood Krishna, even though he was constantly following you everywhere.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 32 – The legend of Lord Krishna – Bhishma Sthuthi

Yudhishtira who is the symbol of ‘Dharma’ speaks “Oh! Krishna, I do not want to rule this Kingdom of Hastinapura. I have attained this Kingdom after shedding the blood of my preceptors, brothers, relatives, companions, and youths, I cannot rule this country after watching the tears of grief of mothers, children, and elderly people of Hastinapura.” once again Krishna took Pandavas to the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

Bhishma Pithamaha who is the symbol of ‘selflessness’,  was born to Devi Ganga and King Shanthanu, immediately after the birth, had to sacrifice the happiness of love and affection of a father, stayed with mother and learned Astra and Shastra.   Later Devavratha returned to father, by that time his parents were out of their wedlock.  While living with father, understood King Shanthanu was in love with Devi Sathyavathi, if the marriage did not take place, his father will be heartbroken,  so he decided not to create any hindrance in their marriage, promised to follow celibacy all his life and refused the heir to the throne of Hastinapura, became one of the most revered ‘Bhishma Pithamaha’. He has to follow the orders of Devi Sathyavathi to bring appropriate bride for her son Vichithraveerya.   Bhishma forcibly brought the three daughters of King of Kashi to the Palace of Hastinapura. Amba refused to marry Vichithiraveerya was dropped to the palace of King Salya who is the lover of Amba has abandoned her.  Bhishma Pithamaha was publicly humiliated by Amba, promised to take his life for making her life miserable.  Further, Bhishma Pithamaha could witness various troubles and atrocities in the Kingdom of Hastinapura. King Pandu lost his life at a young age, his widowed wife Devi Kunthi, and five children returned to the palace. Dhritarashtra who was blind by birth took the ruling of the country, his hundred children were deceitful did not leave a single opportunity to harass the children of Devi Kunthi.  He had to keep quiet for all their unjustifiable deeds of Kaurava, miserably watching the righteous Pandavas going through various hardships in their life.  Bhishma Pithamaha had to witness all those unpardonable mistakes of Kauravas, treachery board game between Kauravas and Pandavas and the related incidents; Devi Dhraupadi cries before the assembly when she was publicly harassed by Duryodhana and Dhusshasana.  Bhishma Pithamaha had to watch the Pandavas exiled from the Kingdom of Hastinapura for twelve years and had to follow the command of Duryodhana while they were in disguise. Bhishma Pithamaha could not protect the Pandavas while they were plotted to kill in wax house by Duryodhana.  Krishna arrived as an emissary of Pandavas was fastened and harassed by the men of Duryodhana, in this way Bhishma Pithamaha was forcibly abiding to watch the atrocities of Kauravas, finally, he had to follow the order in the war zone of Kurukshetra to battle against his own children and Krishna.   In the battlefield, Shikhandi stood before Bhishma Pithamaha, that made him helpless,  Arjuna showered arrows on Pithamaha and he was lying on the bed of arrows waiting for ‘Swecchamrithyu’/death at one’s own desire.  He was one of the Bhagavathoththama elevated his soul to achieve the state of supreme bliss, that did not harm his mind and intellect in any of the adverse situations in his whole life, none of the undesirable deeds of Kaurava couldn't break him, because he was already united his soul with that supreme Bhramam while performing duties and responsibilities.