Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 34
Bhīṣmadeva’s Passing Away in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
युधि तुरगरजोविधूम्रविष्वक्- कचलुलितश्रमवार्यलङ्कृतास्ये । मम निशितशरैर्विभिद्यमान- त्वचि विलसत्कवचेऽस्तु कृष्ण आत्मा ॥ ३४ ॥
yudhi turaga-rajo-vidhūmra-viṣvak- kaca-lulita-śramavāry-alaṅkṛtāsye mama niśita-śarair vibhidyamāna- tvaci vilasat-kavace ’stu kṛṣṇa ātmā
En el campo de batalla, el cabello del Señor Krishna se tornó grisáceo por el polvo levantado por los cascos de los caballos. Debido a Su esfuerzo, gotas de sudor mojaban Su rostro. Que mi mente se pose en ese Krishna, quien aceptó como ornamentos las heridas causadas por mis afiladas flechas.
The Lord is the absolute form of eternity, bliss and knowledge. As such, transcendental loving service to the Lord in one of the five principal relations, namely śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya, i.e., neutrality, servitorship, fraternity, parental affection and conjugal love, is graciously accepted by the Lord when offered to the Lord in genuine love and affection. Śrī Bhīṣmadeva is a great devotee of the Lord in the relation of servitorship. Thus his throwing of sharp arrows at the transcendental body of the Lord is as good as the worship of another devotee who throws soft roses upon Him.
FAQs
This verse shows Bhishma fixing his mind on Krishna’s battlefield form even as he departs—teaching that sincere remembrance of the Lord at life’s end is a powerful culmination of bhakti.
Bhishma recalls Krishna’s intimate participation in the battle—accepting even danger and wounds for His devotee’s sake—so that Bhishma’s mind remains absorbed in Krishna’s merciful, human-like pastimes.
Choose a vivid, personal form of Krishna to remember daily (a scene, name, or pastime) so that devotion becomes natural and steady, especially during difficulty.