Section CLXVII

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the royal son of Kunti, having duly honoured the citizens and the inhabitants of the province, dismissed them to their respective homes. The Pandava king then consoled these women, who had lost their heroic husbands and sons in the battle, with abundant gift of wealth. Having recovered his kingdom, Yudhishthira of great wisdom caused himself to be duly installed on the throne. That foremost of men then assured all his subjects by diverse acts of good will. That foremost of righteous men then set himself to earn the substantial blessing of the Brahmanas, of the foremost military officers, and the leading citizens. The blessed monarch having passed fifty nights in the capital recollected the time indicated by his grandsire as the hour of his departure from this world. Accompanied by a number of priests he then set out of the city named after the elephant, having seen that the sun ceasing to go southwards had begun to proceed in his northward course. Yudhishthira the son of Kunti took with him a large quantity of clarified butter and floral garlands and scents and silken cloths and excellent sandalwood and Aquilaria Agallocha and dark sloe wood, for cremating the body of Bhishma. Diverse kinds of costly garlands and gems also were among those stores. Placing Dhritarashtra ahead and queen Gandhari celebrated for her virtues, and his own mother Kunti and all his brothers also, Yudhishthira of great intelligence, accompanied by Krishna and Vidura of great wisdom, as also by Yuyutsu and Yuyudhana, and by his other relatives and followers forming a large train, proceeded, his praises hymned the while by eulogists and bards. The sacrificial fires of Bhishma were also borne in the procession. Thus accompanied, the king set out from his city like a second chief of the deities. Soon he came upon the spot where the son of Santanu was till lying on his bed of arrows. He beheld his grandsire waited upon with reverence by Parasara’s son Vyasa of great intelligence, by Narada, O royal sage, by Devala and Asita, and also by the remnant of unslain kings assembled from various parts of the country. Indeed, the king saw that his high-souled grandsire, as he lay on his heroic bed, was guarded on all sides by the warriors appointed for that duty. Alighting from his car, King Yudhishthira with his brothers saluted his grandsire, the chastiser of all foes. 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 grandsire Brahman himself, as also by his brothers, Yudhishthira of unfading glory then approached that spot whereon Bhishma lay on his bed of arrows surrounded by these reverend Rishis. Then king Yudhishthira the just, at the head of his brothers, addressed that foremost one of Kuru’s race, viz., the son of the River Ganga, as he lay on that bed of his, saying, 'I am Yudhishthira, O king! Salutations to you, O son of the River Janhavi! If you hearest me still, tell me what I am to do for you! Bearing with me your sacrificial fires, I have come here, O king, and wait upon you at the hour indicated! Preceptors of all branches of learning, Brahmanas, Ritwiks, all my brothers, your son, viz., 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 your eyes, O chief of Kuru’s race, do you behold them! Whatever should be done on this occasion has all been arranged and provided for by me. Indeed, at this hour which you had indicated, all things have been kept ready!'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by Kunti’s son of great intelligence, the son of Ganga opened his eyes and saw all the Bharatas assembled there and standing around him. The mighty Bhishma then, taking the strong hand of Yudhishthira, addressed him in a voice deep as that of the clouds. That thorough master of words said, 'By good luck, O son of Kunti, you have come here with all your counsellors, O Yudhishthira! The thousand-rayed maker of day, the holy Surya has begun his northward course. I have been lying on my bed here for eight and fifty nights. Stretched on these sharp-pointed arrows I have felt this period to be as long as if it was a century. O Yudhishthira, 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 unto Yudhishthira the son of Dharma, Ganga’s son Bhishma then saluted Dhritarashtra and said unto him as follows.'

"Bhishma said, 'O king, you are well-conversant with duties. All your doubts, again, relating to the science of wealth have been well-solved. You have waited upon many Brahmanas of great learning. The subtle sciences connected with the Vedas, all the duties of religion, O king, and the whole of the four Vedas, are well-known to you! You should not grieve, therefore, O son of Kuru! That which was pre-ordained has happened. It could not be otherwise. You have heard the mysteries relating to the deities from the lips of the island-born Rishi himself. Yudhishthira and his brothers are morally as much your sons as they are the sons of Pandu. Observant of the duties of religion, do you cherish and protect them. In their turn, they are always devoted to the service of their seniors. King Yudhishthira the just is pure-souled. He will always prove obedient to you! I know that he is devoted to the virtue of compassion or abstention from injury. He is devoted to his seniors and preceptors. Your sons were all wicked-souled. They were wedded to wrath and cupidity. Overwhelmed by envy, they were all of wicked behavior. It behoves you not to grieve for them!'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said this much unto Dhritarashtra of great wisdom, the Kuru hero then addressed Vasudeva of mighty arms.'

"Bhishma said, 'O holy one, O god of all gods, O you that art worshipped by all the deities and Asuras, O you that didst cover the three worlds with three steps of thine, salutations to you, 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 vast proportions. You are Jiva. You are subtle. You are the Supreme and eternal Soul. Do you, O lotus-eyed one, rescue me, O foremost of all beings! Do you, give me permission, O Krishna, to depart from this world, O you that art Supreme felicity, O foremost of all beings! The sons of Pandu should ever be protected by you. You are, indeed, already their sole refuge. Formerly, I spoke to the foolish Duryodhana of wicked understanding that thither is Righteousness where Krishna is, and that there is victory where Righteousness is. I further counselled him that relying 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 Duryodhana of wicked understanding, however, did not do my bidding. Having caused a great havoc on earth, at last, he himself laid down his life. You, O illustrious one, I know to be that ancient and best of Rishis who dwelt for many years in the company of Nara, in the retreat of Vadari. The celestial Rishi Narada told me this, as also Vyasa of austere penances. Even they have said unto me that. Thyself and Arjuna are the old Rishis Narayana and Nara born among men. Do you, O Krishna, grant me leave, I shall cast off my body. Permitted by you, I shall attain to the highest end!'

"Vasudeva said, 'I give you leave, O Bhishma! Do you, O king, attain to the status of the Vasus, O you of great splendour, you have not been guilty of a single transgression in this world. O royal sage, you are devoted to your sire. You are, therefore, like a second Markandeya! It is for that reason that death depends upon your pleasure even as your slave expectant of reading your pleasure!'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said these words, the son of Ganga once more addressed the Pandavas headed by Dhritarashtra, and other friends and well-wishers of his, 'I desire to cast off my lifebreaths. It behoves you to give me leave. You should strive for attaining to truth. Truth constitutes the highest power. You should always live with Brahmanas of righteous conduct, devoted to penances, ever abstaining from cruel behaviour, and who have their souls under control!' Having said these words unto his friends and embraced them all, the intelligent Bhishma once more addressed Yudhishthira, saying, 'O king, let all Brahmanas, especially those that are endued with wisdom, let them who are preceptors, let those who are priests capable of assisting as sacrifices, be adorable in your estimation.'"