Shloka 22
Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
सो<यं पुरुषशार्दूलो मेघवर्णश्षतुर्भुज: । संश्रित:पाण्डवान् प्रेम्णा भवन्तश्वैनमाश्रिता:
so ’yaṁ puruṣaśārdūlo meghavarṇaś caturbhujaḥ | saṁśritaḥ pāṇḍavān premṇā bhavantaś cainam āśritāḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Inilah singa di antara manusia—berwarna gelap laksana awan hujan dan berlengan empat—yang karena kasih telah berlindung pada para Pāṇḍava; dan kalian pun berlindung kepadanya. Maka ikatan Kṛṣṇa dan para Pāṇḍava adalah saling menaungi, berlandaskan cinta dan sandaran yang benar.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True refuge is not merely strategic alliance but an ethical relationship of mutual protection and trust: Kṛṣṇa supports the Pāṇḍavas out of love, and they rightly rely on him as their shelter, recognizing his divine capacity to uphold dharma.
Bhīṣma identifies Kṛṣṇa—described with divine marks (cloud-dark complexion and four arms)—and states that Kṛṣṇa has lovingly aligned himself with the Pāṇḍavas, while the Pāṇḍavas in turn have sought his protection and guidance.