Shloka 9
Bhīṣmadeva’s Passing Away in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
तान् समेतान् महाभागानुपलभ्य वसूत्तम: । पूजयामास धर्मज्ञो देशकालविभागवित् ॥ ९ ॥
tān sametān mahā-bhāgān upalabhya vasūttamaḥ pūjayām āsa dharma-jño deśa-kāla-vibhāgavit
Bhīṣmadeva, der Beste unter den acht Vasus, kannte die Grundsätze des Dharma nach Ort und Zeit und empfing die dort versammelten großen ṛṣis ehrerbietig und verehrte sie gebührend.
Expert religionists know perfectly well how to adjust religious principles in terms of time and place. All the great ācāryas or religious preachers or reformers of the world executed their mission by adjustment of religious principles in terms of time and place. There are different climates and situations in different parts of the world, and if one has to discharge his duties to preach the message of the Lord, he must be expert in adjusting things in terms of the time and place. Bhīṣmadeva was one of the twelve great authorities in preaching this cult of devotional service, and therefore he could receive and welcome all the powerful sages assembled there at his deathbed from all parts of the universe. He was certainly unable at that time to welcome and receive them physically because he was neither at his home nor in a normal healthy condition. But he was quite fit by the activities of his sound mind, and therefore he could utter sweet words with hearty expressions, and all of them were well received. One can perform one’s duty by physical work, by mind and by words. And he knew well how to utilize them in the proper place, and therefore there was no difficulty for him to receive them, although physically unfit.
FAQs
This verse shows Bhīṣma, a foremost knower of dharma, formally honoring the assembled noble persons, teaching that respect and worship of the righteous is essential Vedic conduct.
Though lying on the bed of arrows, Bhīṣma maintained dharmic decorum; recognizing the exalted assembly, he offered appropriate honors according to time, place, and circumstance.
Choose the right time and setting for speech, worship, and decisions—showing respect appropriately and acting with situational wisdom rather than rigid impulse.