Shloka 52
Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
श्र॒त्वा वा श्रोतुकामो वाप्यर्चयेद् वृषभभध्वजम् । विशुद्धेनेह भावेन य इच्छेद् भूतिमात्मन:
śrutvā vā śrotukāmo vāpy arcayed vṛṣabhadhvajam | viśuddheneha bhāvena ya icched bhūtim ātmanaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Qu’il ait déjà entendu cet enseignement ou qu’il ne fasse que désirer l’entendre, celui qui recherche en ce monde son propre bien et sa prospérité doit adorer Śiva—lui dont l’étendard porte le taureau—avec une intention pure et sincère.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that spiritual benefit depends not only on hearing sacred instruction but also on cultivating a pure inner disposition; one who seeks true welfare should worship Śiva with sincere, purified intention—whether after hearing the teaching or even with the desire to hear it.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction (Anuśāsana Parva), he concludes a teaching by prescribing a practical response: the listener (or aspiring listener) should honor Śiva, identified as the bull-bannered Lord, with purity of heart to attain personal well-being.