Chapter 47
“Yudhishthira said, ‘How wonderful is this, O thou of immeasurableprowess, that thou art rapt in meditation! O great refuge of theuniverse, is it all right with the three worlds? When thou hast, O God,withdrawn thyself (from the world), having, O bull among men, adopted thefourth, state, my mind has been filled with wonder.[135] The fivelife-breaths that act within the body have been controlled by thee intostillness. Thy delighted senses thou hast concentrated within thy mind.Both speech and mind, O Govinda, have been concentrated within thyunderstanding. All thy senses, indeed, have been withdrawn into thysoul.[136] The hair on thy body stands erect. Thy mind and understandingare both still. Thou art as immobile now, O Madhava, as a wooden post ora stone. O illustrious God, thou art as still as the flame of a lampburning in a place where there is no wind. Thou art as immobile as a massof rock. If I am fit to hear the cause, if it is no secret of thine,dispel, O god, my doubt for I beg of thee and solicit it as a favour.Thou art the Creator and thou art the Destroyer. Thou art destructibleand thou art indestructible. Thou art without beginning and thou artwithout end. Thou art the first and the foremost of Beings. O foremost ofrighteous persons, tell me the cause of this (Yoga) abstraction. Isolicit thy favour, and am thy devoted worshipper, and bow to thee,bending my head.’ Thus addressed, the illustrious younger brother ofVasava, recalling his mind, understanding, and the senses to their usualsphere, said these words with a soft smile.’
“Vasudeva said, ‘That tiger among men, Bhishma, who is now lying on a bedof arrows, and who is now like unto a fire that is about to go out, isthinking of me. Hence my mind also was concentrated on him. My mind wasconcentrated upon him, the twang of whose bowstring and the sound ofwhose palms Indra himself was unable to bear. I was thinking of him whohaving vanquished in a trice all the assembled kings (at the Self-choiceof the daughters of the king of Kasi) abducted the three princesses forthe marriage of his brother Vichitravirya. I was thinking of him whofought continually for three and twenty days with Rama himself ofBhrigu’s race and whom Rama was unable to overcome. Collecting all hissenses and concentrating his mind by the aid of his understanding, hesought my refuge (by thinking of me). It was for this that I had centeredmy mind upon him. I was thinking of him whom Ganga conceived and broughtforth according to ordinary human laws and whom Vasishtha took as apupil. I was thinking of that hero of mighty energy and greatintelligence who possesses a knowledge of all the celestial weapons asalso of the four Vedas with all their branches. I was thinking of him, Oson of Pandu, who is the favourite disciple of Rama, the son ofJamadagni, and who is the receptacle of the sciences. I was thinking ofthat foremost of all persons conversant with morality and duty, of him, Obull of Bharata’s race, who knows the Past, the Future, and the Present.After that tiger among kings shall have, in consequences of his ownachievements, ascended to heaven, the earth, O son of Pritha, will looklike a moonless night. Therefore, O Yudhishthira, submissivelyapproaching Ganga’s son, viz., Bhishma of terrible prowess, question himabout what thou mayst desire to learn. O lord of the earth, enquire ofhim about the four branches of knowledge (in respect of morality,profit., pleasure and salvation), about the sacrifices and the rites laiddown for the four orders, about the four modes of life, and about thekingly duties in full. When Bhishma, that foremost one of Kuru’s race,will disappear from the world, every kind of knowledge will disappearwith him. It is for this that I urge thee (to go to him now).’ Hearingthese beneficial words of high import from Vasudeva, the righteousYudhishthira, with voice choked in tears, answered Janardana, saying,’What thou hast said, O Madhava, about the eminence of Bhishma, isperfectly true. I have not the slightest doubt regarding it. Indeed, Ihad heard of the high blessedness, as also the greatness, of theillustrious Bhishma from high-souled Brahmanas discoursing upon it. Thou,O slayer of foes, art the Creator of all the worlds. There cannot,therefore, O delighter of the Yadavas, be the slightest doubt in whatthou sayest. If thy heart be inclined to show grace, O Madhava, then weshall go unto Bhishma with thyself at our head. When the divine Suryashall have turned towards the north, Bhishma will leave (this world), forthose regions of bliss that he has won. That descendant of Kuru’s race,therefore, O mighty-armed one, deserves to have a sight of thee. (If thougrantest my prayer), Bhishma will then obtain a sight of thee that artthe first of Gods, of thee that art destructible and indestructible.Indeed, O lord, thou it is that art the vast receptacle of Brahma.'”
“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of king Yudhishthira thejust, the slayer of Madhu addressed Satyaki who was sitting beside him,saying, ‘Let my car be yoked.’ At this, Satyaki quickly left Kesava’spresence and going out, commanded Daruka, saying, ‘Let Krishna’s car bemade ready.’ Hearing the words of Satyaki, Daruka speedily yokedKrishna’s car. That foremost of vehicles, adorned with gold, decked witha profusion of emeralds, and moon-gems and sun-gems, furnished withwheels covered with gold, possessed of effulgence, fleet as the wind, setin the middle with diverse other kinds of jewels, beautiful as themorning sun, equipped with a beautiful standard topped by Garuda, and gaywith numerous banners, had those foremost of steeds, fleet as thought,viz., Sugriva and Saivya and the other two, in trappings of gold, yokedunto it. Having yoked it, O tiger, among kings, Daruka, with joinedhands, informed Krishna of the fact.’
