Shloka 35
Bhīṣmadeva’s Passing Away in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
सपदि सखिवचो निशम्य मध्ये निजपरयोर्बलयो रथं निवेश्य । स्थितवति परसैनिकायुरक्ष्णा हृतवति पार्थसखे रतिर्ममास्तु ॥ ३५ ॥
sapadi sakhi-vaco niśamya madhye nija-parayor balayo rathaṁ niveśya sthitavati para-sainikāyur akṣṇā hṛtavati pārtha-sakhe ratir mamāstu
സുഹൃത്തായ അർജ്ജുനന്റെ വാക്ക് കേട്ട്, ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ ഇരുസൈന്യങ്ങൾക്കും മധ്യത്തിൽ രഥം നിർത്തി. അവിടെ നിന്നുകൊണ്ട് തന്റെ നോട്ടം കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ ശത്രുക്കളുടെ ആയുസ്സ് അവിടുന്ന് കവർന്നെടുത്തു. പാർത്ഥസാരഥിയായ ആ കൃഷ്ണനിൽ എനിക്ക് അനുരാഗമുണ്ടാകട്ടെ.
In the Bhagavad-gītā (1.21-25) Arjuna ordered the infallible Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa to place his chariot between the phalanxes of the soldiers. He asked Him to stay there until he had finished observing the enemies he had to face in the battle. When the Lord was so asked, He at once did so, just like an order carrier. And the Lord pointed out all the important men on the opposite side, saying, “Here is Bhīṣma, here is Droṇa,” and so on. The Lord, being the supreme living being, is never the order supplier or order carrier of anyone, whoever he may be. But out of His causeless mercy and affection for His pure devotees, sometimes He carries out the order of the devotee like an awaiting servant. By executing the order of a devotee, the Lord becomes pleased, as a father is pleased to carry out the order of his small child. This is possible only out of pure transcendental love between the Lord and His devotees, and Bhīṣmadeva was quite aware of this fact. He therefore addressed the Lord as the friend of Arjuna.
FAQs
'Pārtha-sakhe' means “O friend of Pārtha (Arjuna),” addressing Kṛṣṇa as Arjuna’s intimate companion and charioteer, the Lord who lovingly serves His devotee.
Bhīṣma glorifies Kṛṣṇa’s immediate obedience to Arjuna’s request, revealing the Lord’s bhakta-vātsalya—His affectionate readiness to act for His devotee even amid war.
It teaches to cultivate remembrance of Kṛṣṇa’s protective guidance and to anchor the mind in devotion—especially in life’s “battlefields”—by trusting His presence and direction.