Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
यावत् तस्य भवेत् पुष्टिस्तेजो दीप्ति: पराक्रम: । प्रभाव: सन्नतिर्जन्म कृष्णे तन्त्रिगुणं विभो
yāvat tasya bhavet puṣṭis tejo dīptiḥ parākramaḥ | prabhāvaḥ sannatir janma kṛṣṇe tantriguṇaṁ vibho ||
Bhishma disse: “Ó poderoso! Seja qual for a medida de força e bem-estar, brilho, fulgor, valor, influência, humildade e nobreza de nascimento que se encontre em Arjuna, essas mesmas qualidades existem em Kṛṣṇa em triplo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma teaches that Kṛṣṇa embodies the highest measure of both power and virtue: not only heroic qualities like valor and influence, but also ethical qualities like humility and noble conduct. The verse frames Kṛṣṇa as surpassing even the foremost hero Arjuna, encouraging trust in Kṛṣṇa as the supreme support aligned with dharma.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing and praising, and here he compares Arjuna’s renowned excellences with Kṛṣṇa’s, declaring that whatever greatness is seen in Arjuna is present in Kṛṣṇa threefold. The statement functions as a testimonial of Kṛṣṇa’s preeminence within the epic’s moral and devotional framework.