Shloka 41
Bhīṣmadeva’s Passing Away in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
मुनिगणनृपवर्यसङ्कुलेऽन्त: सदसि युधिष्ठिरराजसूय एषाम् । अर्हणमुपपेद ईक्षणीयो मम दृशिगोचर एष आविरात्मा ॥ ४१ ॥
muni-gaṇa-nṛpa-varya-saṅkule ’ntaḥ- sadasi yudhiṣṭhira-rājasūya eṣām arhaṇam upapeda īkṣaṇīyo mama dṛśi-gocara eṣa āvir ātmā
యుధిష్ఠిర మహారాజు నిర్వహించిన రాజసూయ యజ్ఞంలో, మునిగణాలు మరియు శ్రేష్ఠ రాజులతో నిండిన మహాసభలో, దర్శనీయుడైన భగవాన్ శ్రీకృష్ణుని అందరూ పరమ పురుషోత్తముడిగా పూజించారు. ఇది నా కళ్లముందే జరిగింది; ఆ స్మరణతో నా మనస్సు ప్రభువులో నిలవుగాక.
After gaining victory in the Battle of Kurukṣetra, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, the Emperor of the world, performed the Rājasūya sacrificial ceremony. The emperor, in those days, upon his ascendance to the throne, would send a challenge horse all over the world to declare his supremacy, and any ruling prince or king was at liberty to accept the challenge and express his tacit willingness either to obey or to disobey the supremacy of the particular emperor. One who accepted the challenge had to fight with the emperor and establish his own supremacy by victory. The defeated king would have to sacrifice his life, making a place for another king or ruler. So Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira also dispatched such challenging horses all over the world, and every ruling prince and king all over the world accepted Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s leadership as the Emperor of the world. After this, all rulers of the world under the regime of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira were invited to participate in the great sacrificial ceremony of Rājasūya. Such performances required hundreds of millions of dollars, and it was not an easy job for a petty king. Such a sacrificial ceremony, being too expensive and also difficult to perform under present circumstances, is now impossible in this Age of Kali. Nor can anyone secure the required expert priesthood to take charge of the ceremony.
FAQs
Bhishma recalls Krishna’s worship at the Rājasūya and rejoices that the same Lord is now before his eyes, showing that steady remembrance and direct absorption in Krishna at life’s end is a supreme perfection.
He highlights Krishna’s supreme position: even in an assembly of the greatest sages and kings, Krishna accepted their worship—confirming that the Lord is worthy of all honor and devotion.
Regularly contemplate Krishna’s qualities and pastimes so that devotion becomes natural; then, in critical moments, the mind can turn to the Lord with clarity and gratitude, like Bhishma.