Shloka 8
Bhīṣma’s Hymn to Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa’s Criteria for Divine Self-Disclosure
अतसीपुष्पसंकाशं पीतवाससमच्युतम् । वपुहनिमिमीमस्ते मेघस्येव सविद्युत:
atāsīpuṣpasaṅkāśaṁ pītavāsasam acyutam | vapur aham imīmāṁs te meghasyeva savidyutaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wajah dan tubuh-Mu berwarna gelap seperti bunga atāsī, dan kain kuning itu menambah seri pada-Mu. Engkau tidak pernah tergelincir daripada kemuliaan ilahi-Mu sendiri. Melihat-Mu, aku menyimpulkan Engkau laksana awan hujan yang menjadi indah dengan kilat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models devotional discernment: by contemplating the Lord’s visible signs—His unfallen majesty (acyuta) and auspicious beauty—one recognizes divine sovereignty and steadiness, encouraging faith and ethical steadiness grounded in dharma.
Bhishma addresses Acyuta (Krishna/Viṣṇu) in praise, describing His dark radiance and yellow garment, and likening His splendor to a rain-cloud illuminated by lightning—an image of awe, protection, and divine presence.