Shloka 3
Bhīṣma’s Hymn to Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa’s Criteria for Divine Self-Disclosure
विश्वकर्मन् नमस्ते<स्तु विश्वात्मन् विश्वसम्भव । अपवर्गोडसि भूतानां पञ्चानां परत: स्थित:,इस विश्वकी रचना करनेवाले परमेश्वर! आपको नमस्कार है। विश्वके आत्मा और विश्वकी उत्पत्तिके स्थान-भूत जगदीश्वर! आपको नमस्कार है। आप पाँचों भूतोंसे परे और सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंके लिये मोक्षस्वरूप हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | viśvakarman namas te 'stu viśvātman viśvasambhava | apavargo 'si bhūtānāṃ pañcānāṃ parataḥ sthitaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Arkitek Ilahi alam semesta (Viśvakarman), aku menunduk sujud kepada-Mu. Wahai Jiwa kosmos, wahai sumber tempat alam semesta terbit, aku menunduk sujud kepada-Mu. Engkau berdiri melampaui lima unsur agung, dan bagi segala makhluk Engkau sendiri adalah rupa pembebasan (moksha)—kebebasan daripada belenggu dan kebaikan yang terakhir.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the Supreme reality is both the source of the cosmos and yet transcends material nature (the five elements). Ethically and spiritually, it frames the highest goal as apavarga—liberation—and presents devotion and reverence as a fitting response to the transcendent ground of all beings.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction setting, Bhishma speaks in a devotional register, offering salutations to the cosmic Lord described through epithets like Viśvakarman, Viśvātman, and Viśvasambhava. The verse functions as a praise-invocation that situates the ensuing teaching within a moksha-oriented, metaphysical worldview.