Shloka 93
Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga
Body-Relinquishment
कृष्णव्रता: कृष्णमनुस्मरन्तो रात्रौ च कृष्णं पुनरुत्थिता ये । ते कृष्णदेहा: प्रविशन्ति कृष्ण- माज्यं यथा मन्त्रहुतं हुताशे
kṛṣṇavratāḥ kṛṣṇam anusmaranto rātrau ca kṛṣṇaṃ punar utthitā ye | te kṛṣṇadehāḥ praviśanti kṛṣṇam ājyaṃ yathā mantrahutaṃ hutāśe ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେମାନେ କୃଷ୍ଣବ୍ରତ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି, ଯେମାନେ ନିରନ୍ତର କୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁସ୍ମରଣ କରନ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ଯେମାନେ ରାତିରେ ମଧ୍ୟ କୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ମରି ପୁଣି ଉଠନ୍ତି—ସେମାନେ କୃଷ୍ଣସ୍ୱରୂପ ହୋଇ କୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରନ୍ତି; ଯେପରି ମନ୍ତ୍ରସହ ଅଗ୍ନିରେ ଆହୁତି ଦିଆଯାଇଥିବା ଘୃତ ଅଗ୍ନିରେ ଲୀନ ହୋଇଯାଏ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Single-pointed devotion expressed as disciplined remembrance (vrata + anusmaraṇa) transforms the devotee’s nature; such a person ‘enters’ Kṛṣṇa—i.e., attains intimate union or final refuge in the divine—like a properly consecrated oblation reaching the fire.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction in the Śānti Parva, he praises Kṛṣṇa-centered observance: devotees who continually remember Kṛṣṇa, even rising at night for renewed recollection, are described as becoming Kṛṣṇa-formed and merging into him, illustrated through the sacrificial image of ghee offered with mantra entering Agni.