Shloka 45
Bhīṣmadeva’s Passing Away in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
तत्र दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्देवमानववादिता: । शशंसु: साधवो राज्ञां खात्पेतु: पुष्पवृष्टय: ॥ ४५ ॥
tatra dundubhayo nedur deva-mānava-vāditāḥ śaśaṁsuḥ sādhavo rājñāṁ khāt petuḥ puṣpa-vṛṣṭayaḥ
ఆపై దేవులు, మనుషులు మ్రోగించిన దుందుభులు గంభీరంగా నినదించాయి; సజ్జనులు రాజులను స్తుతించారు, ఆకాశం నుంచి పుష్పవృష్టి కురిసింది।
Bhīṣmadeva was respected both by the human beings and by the demigods. The human beings live on earth and similar other planets in the Bhūr and Bhuvar group of planets, but the demigods live in the Svar, or heavenly planets, and all of them knew Bhīṣmadeva as a great warrior and devotee of the Lord. As a mahājana (or authority) he was on the level of Brahmā, Nārada and Śiva, although he was a human being. Qualification on a par with the great demigods is possible only on attainment of spiritual perfection. Thus Bhīṣmadeva was known all over the universes, and during his time interplanetary travel was effected by finer methods than the futile endeavors of mechanical spacecraft. When the distant planets were informed of the passing away of Bhīṣmadeva, all the inhabitants of the upper planets as well as of the earth dropped showers of flowers to show due respect to the departed great personality. This showering of flowers from heaven is a sign of recognition by great demigods, and it should never be compared to the decoration of a dead body. The body of Bhīṣmadeva lost its material effects due to being surcharged with spiritual realization, and thus the body was spiritualized as when iron becomes red-hot when in contact with fire. The body of a fully self-realized soul is not, therefore, accepted as material. Special ceremonies are observed for such spiritual bodies. The respect and recognition of Bhīṣmadeva are never to be imitated by artificial means, as it has become a fashion to observe the so-called jayantī ceremony for any and every common man. According to authorized śāstras, such a jayantī ceremony for an ordinary man, however exalted he may be materially, is an offense to the Lord because jayantī is reserved for the day when the Lord appears on the earth. Bhīṣmadeva was unique in his activities, and his passing away to the kingdom of God is also unique.
FAQs
In this verse, the flower-shower is a divine sign of approval and celebration—indicating that higher beings honor the sacred, dharmic moment and the glorification of the Lord’s devotees and righteous leaders.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of the account of Bhīṣmadeva’s passing in the presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Honor and support saintly values, celebrate dharmic leadership, and cultivate gratitude for sacred moments—recognizing that genuine virtue and devotion deserve appreciation and public glorification.