Shloka 29
Kṛṣṇa’s Dhyāna and the Prompt to Question Bhīṣma (कृष्णध्यानं भीष्मप्रश्नप्रेरणा च)
आवूृते भगवत्यर्के स हि लोकान् गमिष्यति । त्वद्दर्शन॑ महाबाहो तस्मादर्हति कौरव:
āvṛte bhagavaty arke sa hi lokān gamiṣyati | tvad-darśanaṁ mahābāho tasmād arhati kauravaḥ ||
Vāsudeva berkata: “Apabila Suria yang dimuliakan beralih ke perjalanan bertuah Uttarāyaṇa, dia pasti akan berangkat ke alam-alam yang lebih tinggi. Maka, wahai yang berlengan perkasa, Kaurava itu (Bhīṣma) layak memperoleh pandanganmu—menghadapmu sendiri—sebelum dia pergi.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes honoring a great elder at the threshold of death and recognizing the ethical weight of timely, compassionate action. Since Bhīṣma is about to depart for higher realms at the auspicious turning of the Sun’s course (Uttarāyaṇa), he is worthy of receiving Kṛṣṇa’s personal presence—suggesting that reverence, gratitude, and spiritual support at life’s end are integral to dharma.
Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) addresses Arjuna, noting that Bhīṣma will soon leave for the higher worlds when the Sun turns to Uttarāyaṇa. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa urges that Bhīṣma should be granted the opportunity to see him—setting up the moment of visiting Bhīṣma before his final departure.