Shloka 226
Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga
Body-Relinquishment
सदसदग्रथितं विश्व विश्वाज्रे विश्वकर्मणि । भगवान् सदा नित्य विद्यमान (कभी नष्ट न होनेवाले) और तने हुए एक सुदृढ़ सूतके समान हैं। उनमें यह कार्य-कारणरूप जगत् उसी प्रकार गुँथा हुआ है
bhīṣma uvāca | sadasadgrathitaṃ viśvaṃ viśvāgre viśvakarmaṇi | bhagavān sadā nityaḥ vidyamānaḥ (kadāpi naṣṭa na bhavanti) tanute dṛḍha-sūtra-sadṛśaḥ | tasmin kārya-kāraṇa-rūpaṃ jagat sūtre puṣpa-māleva grathitam | idaṃ sarvaṃ viśvaṃ tasyaiva śrī-aṅge sthitam; tenaiva viśvasya sṛṣṭiḥ kṛtā ||
Bhishma said: The universe, woven of both the real and the unreal, is threaded upon the Lord—the cosmic artisan—who ever exists, eternal and imperishable, like a strong, taut cord. In Him this world, appearing as cause and effect, is strung together just as a garland of flowers is strung on a thread. The whole universe abides in His own glorious being; it is He who has brought this universe into manifestation.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the entire cosmos—experienced as a chain of causes and effects and as a mixture of enduring reality and transient appearance—depends upon and is held together by the eternal, imperishable Supreme. Like flowers on a thread, the world has coherence only because it is supported by the Lord.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues his discourse to Yudhishthira on higher truth and dharma, using a vivid metaphor (thread and garland) to explain how the universe abides in the Lord and is created and sustained by Him.