Shloka 14
योग–सांख्यसमन्वयः, रथोपमा, व्यक्त–अव्यक्तविवेकः
Yoga–Sāṃkhya Synthesis, Chariot Allegory, and the Vyakta–Avyakta Distinction
वह प्रभापुञज्ज भगवान् विष्णुका एक विमान था, जो अपनी दिव्य प्रभासे तीनों लोकोंको प्रकाशित करता हुआ अनुपम जान पड़ता था। सूर्य और गरुड़ जिस आकाशशभमार्गसे चलते हैं, उसीपर वह भी चल रहा था ।। तत्राभिरूपशोभाभिर प्सरोभि: पुरस्कृताम् । बृहतीमंशुमत्प्रख्यां बृहद्धानोरिवार्चिषम्,उस विमानमें उन दोनोंने कमलदलपर विराजमान साक्षात् लक्ष्मीदेवीको देखा, जो पद्माके नामसे प्रसिद्ध हैं। उन्हें बहुत-सी परम शोभामयी सुन्दरी अप्सराएँ आगे किये खड़ी थीं। लक्ष्मीदेवीकी आकृति विशाल थी। वे अंशुमाली सूर्यके समान तेजस्विनी थीं और प्रज्वलित अग्निकी ज्वालाके समान जाज्वल्यमान हो रही थीं। उनके आभूषण नक्षत्रोंके समान चमक रहे थे। मोती-जैसे रत्नोंके हार उनके कण्ठदेशकी शोभा बढ़ा रहे थे
tad vibhāpuñjaṃ bhagavad-viṣṇoḥ ekaṃ vimānaṃ divya-prabhayā trīṃl lokān prakāśayad anupamaṃ babhūva; sūrya-garuḍau yasmād ākāśa-śubhra-mārgād gacchataḥ, tasmād eva tad api gacchati. tatra abhirūpa-śobhābhiḥ apsarobhiḥ puraskṛtāṃ bṛhatīm aṃśumat-prakhyāṃ bṛhad-dhānor iva arcīṣāṃ padma-dala-sthāṃ sākṣāt padmāṃ lakṣmīṃ dadṛśatuḥ; tasyā ābharaṇāni nakṣatrāṇīva bhānti, muktā-maṇi-hārāś ca kaṇṭha-deśa-śriyaṃ vardhayanti.
Bhishma said: There appeared a single celestial aerial car belonging to the Blessed Lord Vishnu—an incomparable mass of radiance that, by its divine splendor, seemed to illumine the three worlds. It moved along the very bright path of the sky on which the Sun and Garuda travel. Within that chariot the two beheld Lakshmi herself—Padma by name—seated upon a lotus-petal, preceded and attended by many exquisitely beautiful apsaras. Vast in presence, she shone like the sun crowned with rays, blazing like a tongue of fire. Her ornaments glittered like stars, and necklaces of pearl-like gems enhanced the beauty of her throat and chest.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes the overwhelming, world-illumining majesty of the divine and the auspicious presence of Lakshmi: true sovereignty and prosperity are portrayed as inseparable from divine radiance, order, and reverence, not merely from worldly power.
Bhishma describes a celestial chariot of Vishnu moving along the sky-path of Surya and Garuda; within it, Lakshmi (Padma) is seen seated on a lotus and honored by apsaras, her brilliance and ornaments depicted through vivid cosmic similes.