Shloka 17
अहो सह शरीरेण प्राप्तो5स्मि परमां गतिम् । उत्तरान् वा कुरून् पुण्यानथवाप्यमरावतीम्,“अहो! क्या मैं इसी शरीरसे परम गतिको प्राप्त हो गया हूँ अथवा पुण्यमय उत्तरकुरु या अमरावतीपुरीमें-आ पहुँचा हूँ
aho saha śarīreṇa prāpto’smi paramāṃ gatim | uttarān vā kurūn puṇyān athavāpy amarāvatīm ||
“അഹോ! ഈ ശരീരത്തോടുകൂടി തന്നെ ഞാൻ പരമഗതി പ്രാപിച്ചുവോ? അല്ലെങ്കിൽ പുണ്യമയമായ ഉത്തരകുരുദേശത്തിലെത്തിയോ—അഥവാ ദേവന്മാരുടെ അമരാവതി നഗരിയിലോ?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights awe at the possibility of attaining the ‘highest goal’ (paramā gati) even while embodied, and it contrasts supreme spiritual attainment with renowned realms of merit (Uttarakuru) and heaven (Amarāvatī). It implicitly elevates liberation/ultimate state above even the most exalted heavenly destinations.
Bhīṣma, speaking in Anuśāsana Parva, expresses astonishment at his present experience, wondering whether he has reached the supreme state while still in his body, or whether he has been transported to famed blessed regions such as Uttarakuru or Indra’s Amarāvatī.