युधिष्ठिर उवाच किमिदं परमाश्चर्यं ध्यायस्यमितविक्रम। कच्चिल्लोकत्रयस्यास्य स्वस्ति लोकपरायण।।शा
Yudhishthira said 'Wonderful it is, o you of immeasurable prowess, that you are rapt in meditation. O great refuge of the universe, is it all well with the three worlds?
चतुर्थं ध्यानमार्ग त्वमालम्ब्य पुरुषर्षभ। अपक्रान्तो यतो देवस्तेन मे विस्मितं मनः॥
When you have, O god, withdrawn yourself from the world, having, O foremost of men, adopted the fourth state (of perfect unconsciousness of the world) my mind has been filled with wonder.
निगृहीतो हि वायुस्ते पञ्चकर्मा शरीरगः। इन्द्रियाणि प्रसन्नानि मनसि स्थापितानि ते॥
The five vital airs which act within the body have been controlled by you. You have controlled your senses within your mind.
वाक् च सत्त्वं च गोविन्द बुद्धौ संवेशितानि ते। सर्वे चैव गुणा देवाः क्षेत्रज्ञे ते निवेशिताः॥
Both words and mind, O Govinda, have been concentered within your understanding. All your senses, have been withdrawn into your self.
नेङ्गन्ति तव रोमाणि स्थिरा बुद्धिस्तथा मनः। काष्ठकुड्यशिलाभूतो निरीहश्चासि माधवा॥
The hair on your body stands erect. Your mind and understanding are both calm. You are as immobile now, O Madhava, as an wooden post or a stone?
यथा दीपो निवातस्था निरिङ्गो ज्वलते पुनः। तथासि भगवन् देव पाषाण इव निश्चलः॥
O illustrious god, you are as calm as the flame of a lamp burning in a place where there is no wind. You are as immobile as a rock.
यदि श्रोतुमिहार्हामि न रहस्यं च ते यदि। छिन्धि मे संशयं देव प्रपन्नायाभियाचते॥
If I am fit to hear the cause, and if it is no secret, remove, O god, my doubt, for I beg this। favour from you.
त्वं हि कर्ता विकर्ता च क्षरं चैवाक्षरं च हि। अनादिनिधनश्चाद्यस्त्वमेव पुरुषोत्तम॥
You are the Creator and you are the Destroyer. You are destructible and you indestructible. You are without beginning and you are without end. You are the first and the foremost of beings.
त्वत्प्रपन्नाय भक्ताय शिरसा प्रणताय च। ध्यानस्यास्य यथा तत्त्वं ब्रूहि धर्मभृतां वर॥
O foremost of pious men, tell me the cause of this abstraction. I solicit your favour, and am your devoted worshipper, and am bending my head to you.
ततः स्वे गोचरे न्यस्य मनोबुद्धिन्द्रियाणि सः। स्मितपूर्वमुवाचेदं भगवान् वासवानुजः॥
Thus accosted the illustrious younger brother of Vasava, reinstating his mind, understanding and the senses in their proper places, said these words similingly.
वासुदेव उवाच शरतल्पगतो भीष्मः शाम्यन्निव हुताशनः मां ध्याति पुरुषव्याघ्रस्ततो मे तद्गतं मनः॥
Vasudeva said 'That foremost men, viz., Bhishma, who is now lying on a bed of arrows, and who is now like a fire that is about to be extinguished, is thinking of me. It is therefore my mind also was concentrated on him.
यस्य ज्यातलनिर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशनेः। न सेहे देवराजोऽपि तमस्मि मनसा गतः॥
My mind was fixed in him the twang of whose bow and the sound of whose palms Indra himself was unable to bear.
येनाभिजित्य तरसा समस्तं राजमण्डलम्। ऊढास्तिस्त्रस्तु ताः कन्यास्तमस्मि मनसा गतः॥
I was thinking of him who having defeated in a moment all the assembled kings, carried the three princesses of Kashi for the marriage of his brother Vichitravirya.
त्रयोविंशतिरात्रं यो योधयामास भार्गवम्। न च रामेण निस्तीर्णस्तमस्मि मनसा गतः॥
I was thinking of him who fought continually for twenty-three days with Rama himself of Bhrigu's race and whom Rama could not defeat.
एकीकृत्येन्द्रियग्राम मनः संयम्य मेधया। शरणं मामुपागच्छत् ततो मे तद्गतं मनः॥
Controlling all his senses and concentrating his mind by the aid of his understanding, he sought my refuge. It was for this that I had fixed my mind upon him.
यं गङ्गा गर्भविधिना धारयामास पार्थिव। वसिष्ठशिक्षितं तात तमस्मि मनसा गतः॥
I was thinking of him whom Ganga conceived and gave birth to, according to ordinary human laws and whom Vasishtha took as a pupil.
दिव्यास्त्राणि महातेजा यो धारयति बुद्धिमान्। साङ्गांश्च चतुरो वेदांस्तमस्मि मनसा गतः॥
I was thinking of that powerful hero of great intelligence who is a master of all the celestial weapons as also of the four Vedas with all their auxiliaries.
रामस्य दयितं शिष्यं जामदग्न्यस्य पाण्डव। आधारं सर्वविद्यानां तमस्मि मनसा गतः॥
I was thinking of him, O son of Pandu, who is the favourite disciple of Rama the son of Jamadagni, and who is the master of all the sciences.
स हि भूतं भविष्यच्च भवच्च भरतर्षभ। वेत्ति धर्मविदां श्रेष्ठं तमस्मि मनसा गतः॥
I was thinking of that best of all persons conversant with morality and duty, of him, O foremost of Bharatas, who knows the Past, the Future, and the Present.
तस्मिन् हि पुरुषव्याघ्ने कर्मभिः स्वैर्दिवं गते। भविष्यति मही पार्थ नष्टचन्द्रेव शर्वरी॥
After the ascension to heaven of that foremost of kings for his own achievements the Earth, O son of Pritha, will took like a moonless night.
तद् युधिष्ठिर गाङ्गेयं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम्। अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य पृच्छ यत् ते मनोगतम्॥
Therefore, O Yudhishthira, humbly approaching Ganga's son, viz., Bhishma, ask him about what you may wish to learn.
चातुर्विद्यं चातुर्होत्रं चातुराश्रम्यमेव च। राजधर्मांश्च निखिलान् पृच्छैनं पृथिवीपते॥
O king enquire of him about the four branches of knowledge, about sacrifices and the rites sanctioned for the four castes, about the four modes of life, and about the duties of kings.
तस्मिन्नस्तमिते भीष्मे कौरवाणां धुरंधरे। ज्ञानान्यस्तं गमिष्यन्ति तस्मात्त्वां चोदयाम्यहम्॥
When Bhishma, that foremost one of Kuru's race, will disappear from the world every kind of knowledge will go away with him. It is, therefore, that I urge you to do it.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वासुदेवस्य तथ्यं वचनमुत्तमम्। साश्रुकण्ठः स धर्मज्ञो जनार्दनमुवाच ह॥ यद् भवानाह भीष्मस्य प्रभावं प्रति माधव। तथा तन्नात्र संदेहो विद्यते मम माधव।॥
Hearing these wholesome and pregnant words of Vasudeva, the righteous Yudhishthira, with voice suppressed with tears, answered Janardana saying—'What you have said, O Madhava, about the greatness of Bhishma, is perfectly true. I have not the least doubt about it.
महाभाग्यं च भीष्मस्य प्रभावश्च महाद्युते। श्रुतं मया कथयतां ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम्॥
I had heard of the piety and greatness, of the illustrious Bhishma from great Brahmanas talking about it.
भवांश्च कर्ता लोकानां यद् ब्रवीत्यरिसूदन। तथा तदनभिध्येयं वाक्यं यादवनन्दन॥
You, O killer of foes, are the Creator of all the worlds, There, cannot, therefore, O delighter of the Yadavas, be the least doubt in what you say.
यदि त्वनुग्रहवती बुद्धिस्ते मयि माधव। त्वामग्रतः पुरस्कृत्य भीष्मं यास्यामहे वयम्॥
If you are pleased to show us favour, O Madhava, then we shall go to Bhishma with yourself at our head.
आवृते भगवत्यर्के स हि लोकान् गमिष्यति। त्वदर्शनं महाबाहो तस्मादर्हति कौरवः॥
When the divine Sun shall have turned towards the north, Bhishma will leave (this world) for those blissful regions which he has acquired. That descendant of Kuru's race, therefore, O mighty-armed one, deserves to see you.
तव चाद्यस्य देवस्य क्षरस्यैवाक्षरस्य च। दर्शनं त्वस्य लाभः स्यात् त्वं हि ब्रह्ममयो निधिः।।
Bhishina will then see you who are the first of gods, and who destructible and indestructible. Indeed, O lord, you are the vast receptacle of Brahma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वैवं धर्मराजस्य वचनं मधुसूदनः। पार्श्वस्थं सात्यकिं प्राह रथो मे युज्यतामिति॥
Vaishampayana said Hearing these words of king Yudhishthira, the destroyer of Madhu addressed Satyaki who was sitting by him, saying,–'Let my car be yoked.
सात्यकिस्त्वाशु निष्क्रम्य केशवस्य समीपतः। दारुकं प्राह कृष्णस्य युज्यतां रथ इत्युत।॥
are At this Satyaki quickly left Keshava's company and going out, ordered Daruka, saying,-'Let Krishna's car be made ready.'
स सात्यकेराशु वचो निशम्य रथोत्तमं काञ्चनभूषिताङ्गम्। विभूषितं हेमनिबद्धचक्रम्॥ दिवाकरांशुप्रभमाशुगामिन विचित्रनानामणिभूषितान्तरम्। नवोदितं सूर्यमिव प्रतापिनं विचित्रता_ध्वजिनं पताकिनम्॥ मनोजवैः काञ्चनभूषिताङ्गैः। संयुक्तमावेदयदच्युताय कृताञ्जलिर्दारुको राजसिंह॥
Hearing the words of Satyaki, Daruka immediately yoked Krishna's car. That best of cars, adorned with gold, decked with profuse emeralds, and moon-gems and sun-gems furnished with golden wheels, effulgent, fleet as the wind, set in the middle with various other kinds of jewels, beautiful as the morning sun, equipped with a beautiful standard bearing the emblem of Gar::da, and numberless other banners, was yoked with those best of horses quick coursing as thought, viz., Sugriva and Saivya and the other two, in trappings of gold. Having yoked it, О tiger among kings, Daruka with joined palms, informed Krishna of the fact