Shloka 103
Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga
Body-Relinquishment
(यं योगिन: प्राप्तवियोगकाले यत्नेन चित्ते विनिवेशयन्ति । सतं पुरस्ताद्धरिमीक्षमाण: प्राणाउ्जहौ प्राप्तपफलो हि भीष्म: ।।
yaṁ yoginaḥ prāptaviyogakāle yatnena citte viniveśayanti | sataṁ purastād dharim īkṣamāṇaḥ prāṇān jahau prāptaphalo hi bhīṣmaḥ || tasminn uparate śabde tatas te brahmavādinaḥ | bhīṣmaṁ vāmbhibāṣpakaṇṭhās tam ānarcur mahāmatim ||
ପ୍ରାଣ-ବିୟୋଗର କ୍ଷଣରେ ଯୋଗୀମାନେ ଯାହାକୁ ମହାୟତ୍ନରେ ହୃଦୟରେ ସ୍ଥାପନ କରନ୍ତି, ସେଇ ଶ୍ରୀହରିଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଦେଖି ଭୀଷ୍ମ ଜୀବନର ସତ୍ୟ ଫଳ ପାଇ ପ୍ରାଣତ୍ୟାଗ କଲେ। ତାଙ୍କର ବାଣୀ ନିରବ ହେବା ସହିତ, ସେଠାରେ ବସିଥିବା ବ୍ରହ୍ମବିଦ୍ ଋଷିମାନେ ଅଶ୍ରୁପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ନୟନ ଓ ଗଦ୍ଗଦ କଣ୍ଠରେ ସେଇ ମହାମତି ଭୀଷ୍ମଙ୍କୁ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାରେ ସ୍ତୁତି କଲେ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ideal of conscious dying: the mind fixed on the divine (Hari) at the final moment. Bhīṣma’s end is portrayed as the ‘fruit of life’—a culmination of dharma, self-mastery, and devotion—showing that inner orientation at death reflects one’s lifelong discipline and values.
Bhīṣma, lying on his bed of arrows, completes his instruction and then falls silent. As he beholds Hari before him, he relinquishes his life-breaths. The assembled sages, overwhelmed with emotion, honor and praise him for his greatness and wisdom.