Shloka 22
Bhīṣmadeva’s Passing Away in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
तथाप्येकान्तभक्तेषु पश्य भूपानुकम्पितम् । यन्मेऽसूंस्त्यजत: साक्षात्कृष्णो दर्शनमागत: ॥ २२ ॥
tathāpy ekānta-bhakteṣu paśya bhūpānukampitam yan me ’sūṁs tyajataḥ sākṣāt kṛṣṇo darśanam āgataḥ
Und dennoch, o König, sieh: aus Erbarmen mit Seinen ausschließlichen Geweihten ist Kṛṣṇa selbst, während ich das Leben verlasse, gekommen, um mir Sein Darśana zu schenken.
The Supreme Lord, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, although equal to everyone, is still more inclined to His unflinching devotee who is completely surrendered and knows no one else as his protector and master. Having unflinching faith in the Supreme Lord as one’s protector, friend and master is the natural condition of eternal life. A living entity is so made by the will of the Almighty that he is most happy when placing himself in a condition of absolute dependence.
FAQs
This verse states that Krishna personally comes to grant His direct audience to His one-pointed devotees, showing special compassion at the moment they leave the body.
Bhishma, lying on the bed of arrows and preparing to depart, points out to Yudhishthira that Krishna’s mercy is especially evident: the Lord is present before him at his final moment.
Cultivate steady, exclusive devotion—regular remembrance, prayer, and aligning choices with Krishna—so that consciousness becomes naturally fixed on the Lord, especially in life’s final tests.