Shloka 1
Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
अफ--रू+ >> अष्टचत्वारिशंर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: भगवान् श्रीकृष्णकी महिमाका वर्णन और भीष्मजीका युधिष्ठिरको राज्य करनेके लिये आदेश देना नारद उवाच अथ व्योम्नि महान् शब्द: सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुमान् मेघैश्व गगनं नील॑ संरुद्धमभवद् घनै:
Nārada uvāca: atha vyomni mahān śabdaḥ sa-vidyut-stanayitnumān; meghaiś ca gaganaṁ nīlaṁ saṁruddham abhavad ghanaiḥ.
Dijo Nārada: Entonces, en el cielo se alzó un gran estruendo, acompañado de relámpagos y del hondo retumbar de los nubarrones. Cubierto por densas masas de nubes, todo el firmamento se tornó azul oscuro y quedó velado.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
This verse itself is primarily atmospheric rather than doctrinal: it frames the forthcoming dharmic instruction by depicting a powerful cosmic setting. The implied lesson is that guidance on righteous rule and conduct is weighty—nature’s grandeur mirrors the seriousness of dharma and kingship.
Narada describes a sudden, intense change in the sky: thunder and lightning arise, and dense clouds cover the firmament, turning it dark-blue. This functions as a dramatic prelude to the next phase of discourse in which Krishna’s greatness is recalled and Bhishma’s counsel to Yudhishthira about ruling is foregrounded.