Shloka 173
Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga
Body-Relinquishment
युकत्या सर्वात्मना55त्मानं तं॑ प्रपद्ये प्रजापतिम् । जो स्वयं शुद्ध हैं
yuktyā sarvātmanā ātmānaṃ taṃ prapadye prajāpatiṃ |
ୟୁକ୍ତି ସହିତ ଏବଂ ସମଗ୍ର ଆତ୍ମଭାବରେ ମୁଁ ସେହି ପ୍ରଜାପତିଙ୍କ ଶରଣ ନେଉଛି। ଯିଏ ସ୍ୱୟଂ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ, ଯାହାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତିର ପଥ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ; ଯିଏ ହଂସସ୍ୱରୂପ, ‘ତତ୍’ ପଦର ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟାର୍ଥ ପରମାତ୍ମା ଏବଂ ପ୍ରଜାପାଳକ ପରମେଷ୍ଠୀ। ମୁଁ ସବୁ ଦିଗର ସମ୍ପର୍କ ଛିଣ୍ଡି କେବଳ ତାଙ୍କ ସହିତ ନାତା ଯୋଡ଼ି, ସର୍ବପ୍ରକାରେ ସେହି ସର୍ବାତ୍ମା ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କ ଶରଣ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରୁଛି।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True refuge is taken with both clarity (yuktyā) and total commitment (sarvātmanā). The verse teaches that surrender to the highest protector (Prajāpati) is an ethical reorientation: withdrawing reliance from lesser supports and grounding one’s life in the pure source of order and guardianship.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhīṣma speaks as a teacher on dharma and spiritual conduct. Here he voices a personal vow-like statement of taking refuge in Prajāpati, exemplifying the devotional and contemplative posture that undergirds his broader counsel.