Shloka 61
स्थितिं धर्मे परां दृष्टवा भीष्मस्यामिततेजस: । तदनन्तर विभिन्न जनपदोंके स्वामी नरेशगण अमिततेजस्वी भीष्मकी यह धर्मविषयक उत्तम निष्ठा देखकर बड़े विस्मित हुए || ६० है ।। उपधान ततो दत्त्वा पितुस्ते मनुजेश्वरा:,राजन्! आपके पितृतुल्य भीष्मको उपर्युक्त तकिया देकर उन नरेश, पाण्डव तथा महारथी कौरव सभीने एक साथ सुन्दर बाणशय्यापर सोये हुए महात्मा भीष्मके पास जाकर उन्हें प्रणाम करके उनकी तीन बार प्रदक्षिणा की और सब ओरसे भीष्मकी रक्षाकी व्यवस्था करके सभी वीर अपने शिविरको ही चल दिये। वे अत्यन्त आतुर होकर भीष्मका ही चिन्तन कर रहे थे। सायंकालमें खूनसे लथपथ हुए वे सब लोग अपने निवासस्थानपर गये
sañjaya uvāca | sthitiṃ dharme parāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ | tadanantaraṃ bhinnajanapadānāṃ svāmino nareśā amitatejasvinaḥ bhīṣmasya dharmaviṣayakām uttamāṃ niṣṭhāṃ dṛṣṭvā mahad vismitā abhavan | upadhānaṃ tato dattvā pituḥ te manujeśvarāḥ, rājan, tava pitṛtulyaṃ bhīṣmaṃ | te nareśāḥ pāṇḍavāś ca mahārathāḥ kauravāś ca sarve ekasāthaṃ sundare bāṇaśayye śayānaṃ mahātmānaṃ bhīṣmaṃ upasaṃgamya praṇamya trir pradakṣiṇaṃ cakruḥ | sarvataś ca bhīṣmasya rakṣāvyavasthāṃ kṛtvā sarve vīrāḥ svaśibirāṇi jagmuḥ | te atyantam āturā api bhīṣmam eva cintayantaḥ āsan | sāyaṃkāle rudhireṇa liptāḥ te sarve nivasasthānaṃ gatāḥ |
Sanjaya said: Seeing the supreme steadfastness of the mighty Bhishma in dharma, the kings—lords of many realms—were filled with wonder at that noble, dharma-centered resolve. Then, O King, after placing a pillow for your father-like Bhishma, those rulers, together with the Pandavas and the great chariot-warriors of the Kauravas, all approached the great-souled Bhishma as he lay upon his beautiful bed of arrows. They bowed to him, circumambulated him three times, and arranged protection for him on all sides. Thereafter all the heroes returned to their own camps—though deeply distressed, their minds remained fixed on Bhishma alone. In the evening, stained with blood, they all went back to their quarters.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the midst of war, dharma is recognized through steadfastness, self-control, and integrity. Bhishma’s unwavering commitment to dharma commands reverence from both sides, showing that moral authority can transcend factional conflict.
After witnessing Bhishma’s supreme dharmic resolve while he lies on the bed of arrows, the assembled kings—along with both Pandavas and Kaurava warriors—approach him, offer salutations, circumambulate him three times, arrange guards for his protection, and then return to their camps, still mentally preoccupied with Bhishma.