Shloka 64
Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga
Body-Relinquishment
अकुण्ठं सर्वकार्येषु धर्मकार्यार्थमुद्यतम् । वैकुण्ठस्य च तद् रूप॑ तस्मै कार्यात्मने नम:,जिन्हें कोई भी काम करनेमें रुकावट नहीं होती, जो धर्मका काम करनेको सर्वदा उद्यत रहते हैं तथा जो वैकुण्ठधामके स्वरूप हैं, उन कार्यरूप भगवान्को नमस्कार है
akuṇṭhaṁ sarvakāryeṣu dharmakāryārtham udyatam | vaikuṇṭhasya ca tad rūpaṁ tasmai kāryātmane namaḥ ||
Bhīṣma sprach: Verehrung dem Herrn, den in keinem Vorhaben ein Hindernis aufhält, der stets darauf gerichtet ist, das Werk des Dharma zu vollbringen, und der selbst die Gestalt Vaikuṇṭhas ist—dessen Wesen wirksames Handeln zum Guten ist. Diesem Handlungs-Selbst sei Ehre.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest object of reverence is the power that acts without obstruction for the sake of dharma. Divine greatness is characterized by unfailing effectiveness (akuṇṭhatā) and constant commitment to righteous purpose (dharma-kārya), presenting an ethical ideal of action aligned with righteousness.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct after the war. Here he offers a brief hymn of salutation, identifying the Lord (associated with Nārāyaṇa/Viṣṇu) as the unobstructed doer of dharmic work and as the very embodiment of Vaikuṇṭha, reinforcing devotion alongside ethical instruction.