Shloka 243
भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्
Departure to Behold Bhīṣma
आस्ते महर्षिभि: सार्ध ब्रह्मा देवगणैर्यथा । तदनन्तर वे सब लोग उस स्थानपर गये जहाँपर प्रभावशाली भीष्मजी बाणशय्यापर सो रहे थे। जैसे देवताओंसे घिरे हुए ब्रह्माजी शोभा पाते हैं
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: āste maharṣibhiḥ sārdhaṁ brahmā devagaṇair yathā | tadanantaraṁ te sarve lokāḥ tasmin sthāne gatāḥ yatra prabhāvaśālī bhīṣmaḥ bāṇaśayyāyāṁ suptaḥ | yathā devatābhiḥ parivṛto brahmā śobhate tathā maharṣibhiḥ sārdhaṁ bhīṣmaḥ suśobhate |
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: Nakahimlay doon si Bhīṣma kasama ng mga dakilang rishi, nagniningning na wari’y si Brahmā na napalilibutan ng mga pangkat ng mga diyos. Pagkaraan nito, nagtungo ang lahat ng mga tao sa pook na kinaroroonan ng makapangyarihang Bhīṣma na nagpapahinga sa kanyang higaan ng mga palaso. Kung paanong maringal si Brahmā kapag napapaligiran ng mga diyos, gayon din nagliwanag si Bhīṣma, na inaalalayan ng mga maharshi—pinararangalan hindi dahil sa tagumpay sa digmaan, kundi dahil sa kanyang di-matitinag na pagtalima sa dharma at sa bigat-moral ng kanyang huling pagtuturo.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Bhīṣma’s authority as moral and spiritual: even while wounded and near death, he is honoured like a cosmic teacher, surrounded by sages. The ethical point is that dharma and wisdom command reverence beyond battlefield outcomes.
After preceding events, the assembled people go to the spot where Bhīṣma lies on his bed of arrows. He is depicted as resplendent in the company of maharṣis, compared to Brahmā encircled by the gods—setting the scene for Bhīṣma’s instruction in Śānti Parva.