Shloka 17
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
अहो सह शरीरेण प्राप्तो5स्मि परमां गतिम् । उत्तरान् वा कुरून् पुण्यानथवाप्यमरावतीम्,“अहो! क्या मैं इसी शरीरसे परम गतिको प्राप्त हो गया हूँ अथवा पुण्यमय उत्तरकुरु या अमरावतीपुरीमें-आ पहुँचा हूँ
aho saha śarīreṇa prāpto’smi paramāṃ gatim | uttarān vā kurūn puṇyān athavāpy amarāvatīm ||
毗湿摩说道：“啊！我竟以此身达到了至高境界吗？还是我已来到圣洁的北俱卢之地——甚至到了阿摩罗伐底，诸神之城？”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights awe at the possibility of attaining the ‘highest goal’ (paramā gati) even while embodied, and it contrasts supreme spiritual attainment with renowned realms of merit (Uttarakuru) and heaven (Amarāvatī). It implicitly elevates liberation/ultimate state above even the most exalted heavenly destinations.
Bhīṣma, speaking in Anuśāsana Parva, expresses astonishment at his present experience, wondering whether he has reached the supreme state while still in his body, or whether he has been transported to famed blessed regions such as Uttarakuru or Indra’s Amarāvatī.