अनुशासनिक पर्व — युधिष्ठिर भीष्म के पास आते हैं

Vaishampayana said Then having duly honoured the citizens and the inhabitants of the province, the royal son of Kunti dismissed them to their respective homes.

The Pandava king then consoled those women, who had lost their heroic husbands and sons in the battle, with profuse gifts of wealth.

Having recovered his kingdom, Yudhishthira caused himself to be duly installed on the throne. That foremost of men then assured all his subjects by various deeds of good will.

That foremost of righteous men set himself to acquire the substantial blessings of the Brahmanas, of the foremost inilitary officers, and the leading citizens.

Having passed fifty nights in the capital, the blessed monarch recollected the time indicated by his grandfather as the hour of his departure from this world.

Accompanied by a number of priests he then left the city of Hastinapur having seen that the sun ceasing to go southwards, had begun to proceed in his northward course.

Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, took with bin a large quantity of clarified butter and floral garlands and scents and silken cloths and excellent sandal wood and Aquilaria Agallocha and dark cloewood, for cremating the body of Bhishma. Various kinds of rich garlands and gems also were among those stores.

Placing Dhritarashtra at the head and queen Gandhari celebrated for her virtues, and his own mother Kunti and all his brothers also the highly intelligent Yudhishthira, accompanied by Krishna and wise Vidura, as also by Yuyutsu and Yuyudhana, and by his other relatives and followers forming a large train, proceeded, his praises sung the while by culogists and bards. The sacrificial fires of Bhishma were also borne in the procession.

Thus accompanied, the king started from his city like a second king of the celestials. Soon he came upon the spot where the son of Shantanu was still lying on his bed of arrows.

He saw his grandfather waited upon with reverence by Parasharas intelligent, son Vyasa, by Narada, O royal sage, by Devala and Asita, and also by the surviving unslain kings assembled from various parts of the country. Indeed, the king saw that his great grandfather, as he lay on his heroic bed, was guarded on all sides by the warriors appointed for that duty. Getting down from his car, king Yudhishthira, with his brothers, saluted his grandfather, that chastiser of all enemies. They also saluted the Rishis with the Island-born Vyasa at their head. They were saluted in return by them.

Accompanied by his priests each of whom resembled the grandfather Brahman himself, as also by his brothers, Yudhishthira, of undecaying glory, then approach that spot whereon Bhishma lay on his bed of arrows surrounded by those reverend Rishis.

Then king Yudhishthira the just with all his brothers, addressed that foremost one of Kuru's race, the son of the River Ganga, as he lay on that bed of his saying, I am Yudhishthira, O king. Salutations to thee, O son of the River Janhavi. If you hearest me still, O tell me what I am to do for thee.

Carrying with me thy sacrificial fires, I have come here, O king and wait upon thec at the hour appointed. Preceptors of all branches of learning, Brahmanas, Ritvijas, all iny brothers, thy son the king Dhritarashtra of great energy, are all here with my counsellors as also Vasudeva of great prowess.

The remnant of unslain warriors, and all the denizens of Kurujangala, are also here, Opening the eyes, O chief of Kuru's race, do you see them.

Whatever should be done on this occasion have all been arranged and provided for by me. Indeed, at this hour which you hadst spoken of, all things have been kept in readiness.

Vaishampayana said Thus addressed by the highly intelligent Kunti's son the son, of Ganga opened his eyes and all the Bharatas assembled there and stood around him.

The mighty Bhishma then, taking the strong hand of Yudhishthira, addressed hiin, in a voice deep as that of the clouds.

By good luck, O son of Kunti, you have come here with all your counsellors, O Yudhishthira. The thousandrayed maker of day, the holy Sun, has begun his northward course.

I have been lying on my bed here for fiftycight nights. Stretched these on shai ppointed arrows, I have felt this period to be as long as if it was a century.

O Yuthishthira, the lunar month of Magha has come. This is, again, the lighted fortnight and a fourth part of it ought by this (according to my calculations) be over.

Having said so to Yudhishthira the son of Dharma, Ganga's son Bhishma then saluted Dhritarashtra and said to him as follows.

Bhishma said O king, you know well the duties. All your doubts, again, relating to the science of wealth, have been well solved. You have served many learned Brahmanas.

You know the subtile sciences connected with the Vedas, all the duties of religion, O king, and the whole of the four Vedas.

You should not grieve, therefore, O son of Kuru. That which was preordained has come to pass. It could not be otherwise. You have heard the mysteries relating to the deities from the lips of the Islandborn Rishi himself.

Yuthishthira and his brothers are morally as much your sons as are the sons of Pandu. Following the duties of religion, cherish and protect them. In their turn, they are always devoted to the service of their elders.

King Yudhishthira, the just, is pure souled. He will always be obedient to you. I know that he is given to the virtue of mercy or abstention from injury. He is devoted to his elders and preceptors.

Your sons wore all wickedsouled. They were full of anger and cupidity. Overwhelmed by envy they were all of wicked conduct. You should not grieve for them.

Vaishampayana said Having said this much to Dhritarashtra of great wisdom, the Kuru chief then addressed Vasudeva of great arms.

O holy one, O god of all gods O you adored by all the deities and Asuras, O you who didst cover the three worlds with three steps of thine, I bow unto thee, O wielder of the conch, the discus, and the mace.

You are Vasudeva, you are of golden body, you are the one Purusha (or active agent), you are the creator (of the universe), You are of huge proportions. You are sentiency. You are subtle. You are the Supreme and Eternal Soul.

Do you, O lotuseyed one, save me, O foremost of all beings. Do you give me to permission, O Krishna, to depart from this world, O you who are supreme happiness, O foremost of all beings. You should always protect the sons of Pandu. You are, indeed, already their sole refuge.

Formerly, I spoke the foolish Duryodhana of wicked understanding that there is Virtue where Krishna is, and that there is victory where Virtue is.

I further advised him that depending on Vasudeva as his refuge, he should make peace with the Pandavas, Indeed, I repeatedly told him, “This is the fittest time for you to make peace.'

The foolish and wicked Duryodhana however did not do what I said. Having caused a great havoc on Earth, at last, he himself gave up his life.

I know thee, O illustrious one, to be that ancient and best of Rishis who lived for many years in the company of Nara, in hermitage of Badari.

The celestial Rishi Narada told me this, as also Vyasa of austere penances. Even they have said to me that, Thyself and Arjuna are the old Rishis Narayana and Nara born among men.

Do you, O Krishna, grant me leave. I shall renounce my body. Permitted by thec, I shall attain to the highest end.

Vasudeva said I give you leave, O Bhishma, O king, to attain to the status of the Vasus. O you of great splendour, you have not been guilty of a single sin, in this world.

O royal sage, you are devoted to your father. You are, therefore, like a second Markandeya. It is, therefore, that death depends upon your pleasure like a slave.

Vaishampayana said Having said these words, the son of Ganga once more addressed the Pandavas headed by Dhritarashtra, and other friends and wellwishers of his.

I wish to renounce my life. You should give me leave. You should strive for attaching to truth. Truth forms the highest power.

You should always live with Brahmanas of righteous conduct, devoted to penances, ever abstaining from cruel conduct, and who have their souls under restraint.

Having said these words to his friends and embraced them all, the intelligent Bhishma once more addressed Yudhishthira, saying, "O king, worship all Brahmanas, especially those who are gifted with wisdom, them who are preceptors, those who are priests capable of assisting at sacrifices.