Shloka 54
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
तदनन्तर कुण्डधारके कृपाप्रसादसे तपस्याद्वारा सिद्धि पाकर वह ब्राह्मण सम्पूर्ण लोकोंमें विचरने लगा ।। विहायसा च गमनं॑ तथा संकल्पितार्थता । धर्माच्छक्त्या तथा योगाद् या चैव परमा गति:,आकाशभमार्गसे चलना, संकल्पमात्रसे ही अभीष्ट वस्तुका प्राप्त हो जाना तथा धर्म, शक्ति और योगके द्वारा जो परमगति प्राप्त होती है, वह सब कुछ उस ब्राह्मणको प्राप्त हो गयी
tadanantara kuṇḍadhārake kṛpāprasādase tapasyādvārā siddhiṃ prāpya sa brāhmaṇaḥ sampūrṇeṣu lokeṣu vicarituṃ pracakrame. vihāyasā ca gamanaṃ tathā saṅkalpitārthatā, dharmāc chaktyā tathā yogād yā caiva paramā gatiḥ—tat sarvaṃ tasya brāhmaṇasya prāptam abhavat.
Bhīṣma disse: “Depois disso, pela graça e pelo favor de Kuṇḍadhāra, aquele brâmane alcançou a realização por meio da austeridade e passou a vagar por todos os mundos. Obteve o poder de viajar pelo céu, de alcançar o que desejava por mera determinação, e de atingir o estado supremo alcançável por dharma, força interior e yoga.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links extraordinary attainments (siddhis) to ethical and spiritual causes: disciplined tapas, supported by dharma, empowered by inner strength (śakti), refined through yoga, and aided by grace (kṛpā-prasāda). The emphasis is that higher capacities and the ‘supreme state’ are consequences of righteous, disciplined living rather than mere desire for miracles.
Bhīṣma narrates that after receiving grace connected with Kuṇḍadhāraka, a brāhmaṇa performs austerities, attains siddhi, and then roams across the worlds. He acquires sky-travel, wish-fulfillment through resolve, and access to the highest spiritual destination attainable through dharma, śakti, and yoga.