Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
कीर्तिलिक्ष्मीर्धतिश्वैव स्वर्गमार्गस्तथैव च । यत्रैष संस्थितस्तत्र देवो विष्णुस्त्रिविक्रम:,ये त्रिविक्रम विष्णुदेव जहाँ विद्यमान हैं, वहीं कीर्ति, लक्ष्मी, धृति तथा स्वर्गका मार्ग है
kīrti-lakṣmīr dhṛtiś caiva svarga-mārgaḥ tathaiva ca | yatraiṣa saṃsthitas tatra devo viṣṇus trivikramaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道:“凡此主毗湿奴——三步遍行者(特里维克拉玛)——坚固安住之处,名声与福泽、心志之坚忍,以及通往天界之道,亦同在其间。”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse teaches that where Viṣṇu is truly established—externally through worship and internally through dharmic alignment—there naturally arise auspicious outcomes: honorable reputation (kīrti), prosperity (lakṣmī), inner resolve (dhṛti), and a righteous course leading to heavenly merit (svarga-mārga).
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and religious merit. Here he praises Viṣṇu (as Trivikrama), asserting that the Lord’s presence is the locus of auspicious virtues and the right path, reinforcing devotion as a support for ethical life.