Shloka 57

Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga

Body-Relinquishment

Devanagari script

यो5सौ युगसहसान्ते प्रदीप्तार्चिविंभावसु: । सम्भक्षयति भूतानि तस्मै घोरात्मने नम:,सृष्टिके एक हजार युग बीतनेपर प्रचण्ड ज्वालाओंसे युक्त प्रलयकालीन अग्निका रूप धारण कर जो सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंका संहार करते हैं, उन घोररूपधारी परमात्माको प्रणाम है

Transliteration

yo 'sau yuga-sahasrānte pradīptārcir vibhāvasuḥ | sambhakṣayati bhūtāni tasmai ghorātmane namaḥ ||

Translation

Salam hormat kepada Sang Diri Tertinggi yang dahsyat itu—yang pada akhir seribu yuga menjelma sebagai api pralaya dengan lidah-lidah nyala, lalu melahap seluruh makhluk.

Word by Word

यःwho

असौthat (yonder) one

युगसहस्रान्तेat the end of a thousand yugas

प्रदीप्तार्चिविम्भावसुःhe whose fire has blazing flames and great radiance

सम्भक्षयतिdevours, consumes

भूतानिbeings, creatures

तस्मैto him

घोरात्मनेto the dreadful-natured one

नमःsalutation, homage

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Vibhāvasu (Agni / cosmic fire of dissolution)

Paramātman (implied as the ultimate being addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches reverence for the Supreme principle that governs creation and dissolution. Remembering the cosmic ‘end’ (pralaya) cultivates humility, detachment, and ethical restraint, aligning one’s conduct with dharma rather than pride in temporary power.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and higher truths. Here he offers a salutation (namas) to the Supreme as the pralaya-fire—Vibhāvasu with blazing flames—who consumes all beings at the end of vast cosmic cycles.