The passing of Bhishma, complete

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्

 देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयम् उदीरयेत्

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

Suta Goswami's version

Sauti’s complete name is Ugashrava, the son of Lomaharshana. He is also called Suta Goswami in the Bhagavat Purana. As the disciple of Vyasa he narrates both works. In the Bhagavatam, Suta Goswami summarizes the conversation between Bhishma and Yudhisthira. 

After telling the story of the Swan and the sadhyas, Bhishma went on to explain many things. He taught Yudhisthira about ethics, morality, politics and dharma. He explained what is forbidden by the Vedas as well as what is sanctioned. He described the path of righteousness and the path of liberation. He gave copious examples and told many stories as illustrations, remembering the teachings that were imparted to him as a young man in the ashram of Vasistha Muni and including what he had heard from many saints and rishis in his long life as regent to the kings of India.

He explained the teachings of Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita and recited the thousand names of Vishnu.  And when that foremost person among the Karuavas was lying on the bed of arrows whose sharpened points are always coveted by heroes, Yudhisthira of great wisdom heard him expound the mysteries of wisdom and resolve his doubts about dharma, righteousnes, loss and gain, self-restraint and right living, as well as the ultimate liberation of the soul. 

But now the sun was moving to the north, at last. Bhishmadeva had spoken on many subjects, had answered many questions, and had discoursed on the meaning of life. But now life was slipping through his hands at last. His time was limited. He fell silent. 

And all around him also fell perfectly silent, motionless as painted figures. Vyasadeva himself, the son of Satyavati, having reflected duly approached the royal son of the Ganges and spoke thus, 

"O King, the chief of the Kurus must return to Hastinapura. Give him leave to go."

And Bhishma said, "So be it. Return to your city and rule. Let your heart's fever be soothed. Perform the sacrifices that need be done for the dead. Gratify the deities. May peace be upon your spirit. You are now  king. A great king is like a strong tree.  Let your well-wishers live even as birds, depending for their means upon a strong tree. I do not have long. The sun begins its course to the north. The days grow shorter. When my time comes, return here, before I depart this world. I have more to say to you my son. But go now. Go to your city."

And Yudhisthira said,

"So be it."

The king set out with his relatives and followers for the city of the elephants. They went with Dhritarastra, the old blind king, who held his head low, lamenting all that had happened. Gandhari walked beside her husband, her eyes blindfolded in solidarity with the erstwhile liege of the fallen Kurus. And accompanied by the Rishis and by Krishna Himself, who is known as Keshava, they left the killing fields for the city of the elephant. 

Sauti'’s narration of Mahabharata was heard by the sages of Naimisharanya forest at the twelve year sacrifice of Shaunaka. If Sauti and Suta are the same person, Suta Goswami is also the narrator of Bhagavat Purana and a disciple of Vyasa who narrated his conclusions to Shaunaka Rishi and the sages of Naimisharanya.

The Mahabharata narration of Sauti or Suta Goswami as heard by Shaunaka was later compiled by Vyasa as the final edition of Mahabharata. Sauti heard the story of Mahabharata from his guru Vyasa. Vyasa’s version as heard and narrated by Sauti includes the version of Vaishampayana Rishi as told to Janamejaya.

Sauti’s complete name is Ugashrava, the son of Lomaharshana. And this sage while called Sauti in the Mahabharata, is also called Suta Goswami in the Bhagavat Purana. As the disciple of Vyasa he narrates both works. As Bhishma begins his exit from this world, Suta Goswami performs the duty of narrator of the Mahabharata.

Suta Gosvami said: 

"The royal son of Kunti returned to the great city of the elephants, there to perform different sacrifices as well as to gratify the deities. He consoled those women who lost their husbands and sons in the war and made them gifts. He was installed upon the throne of Hastinapura and, properly crowned king, he gave charity to the brahmanas and performed different acts of good will for the general populace. He accepted the blessings of the brahmanas and the military officers as well as the leading citizens of Hastinapura. In this way, Yudhisthira did his best to revive the spirits of the city and set them on the course of peace. 

"Yudhisthira passed fifty nights in his capital until such time as the sun's position had changed according to the indications of Bhishma. When the sun began its movement to the north and Bhishma's departure grew near, the newly crowned king set out to the battlefield again. Yudhisthira rode on a fine war chariot accompanied by a host of brahmana priests. They brought ghee and flower garlands, fragrant oils, silk and sandalwood, and all that was required for the proper funeral ceremonies and for the cremation of Bhishma's corpse upon his soul's ascent to the higher worlds.

Sun in North at Angkor Wat

"The old blind king, Dhritarastra,went in front with his wife Gandhari. Yudhisthira's mother Kunti also went in front. Yudhisthira was followed by his brothers. Krishna was there with Arjuna the swift archer, Bhima the powerful as well as Nakula and Sahadeva followed him. They rode on fine war-cars drawn by the best of horses adorned with gold. There present were also my spiritual master Vyasa and the sage Dhaumya, who had followed the Pandavas even in their darkest days. Many other great sages and saints All the sages like Parvata Muni, Narada, Dhaumya, Vyasa the incarnation of God, Brihadasva, Bharadvaja and Parasurama and disciples, Vasishtha, Indrapramada, Trita, Gritsamada, Asita, Kakshivan, Gautama, Atri, Kausika and Sudarsana were present. And many others like Sukadeva Gosvami and other purified souls, Kasyapa and Angirasa and others, all accompanied by their respective disciples, arrived there along with great personalities such as Vidura to witness the passing of Bhishma.

Suta continued: "The Lord  Krishna, God Himself, was seated on Arjuna's golden chariot. 

With all the relatives and followers they formed a long train. There were poets and eulogists and expert brahmanas chanting the Vedic hymns. They lit sacrificial fires in honor of Bhishma as they moved across the fields of Kurukshetra. And so accompanied, Yudhisthira looked like a second king of heaven.  And soon they came upon the place where the son o Shantunu was stilll lying on his bed of arrows like a god fallen from heaven. 

Suta said, "My mentor Vyasa, the son of Parashara, offered him reverence as did Narada, the sage among the gods.  The remaining warrior kings who had survived the war did him reverence as well. Just to see Bhishma, the chief of the descendants of King Bharata, all the great souls in the universe, namely the rishis amongst the demigods, brahmanas and kings, all situated in the quality of goodness, were assembled there. Bhishmadeva, through half-closed eyes murmured his greeting to all who had gathered there and closed his eyes.

"And finally the Pandava King Yudhishthira, along with his younger brothers and Lord Krishna, bowed down before him saying, 'My liege, forgive me for my absence, but I was hard-pressed to fulfill my royal duties in the city of the elephants. Your eyes are nearly closed. Do you know me? It is I, Yudhisthira.'"

King Yudhisthira, seated with Draupadi with Bhima in front left and Arjuna front right, Nakula and Sahadeva behind

"'Here are many brahmanas present along with great sages like Narada and Vyasa. Krishna Himself is present here. We have come along with the unslain warriors and the citizens of Kurujangala. Open your eyes, my lord, and behold them. We have prepared everything for your departure at the indicated hour.'"

Suta said, "Thus addressed by the son of Kunti, the son of Ganges opened his eyes. He saw all the Bharatas gathered there, headed by Yudhisthira. The mighty snow-bearded Bhishma took the strong hand of Yudhisthira and addressed him in a voice deep as clouds."

'Bhishma said, "O son of Kunti, I see you have come to me in the hour of my death. You have not abandoned me. You have brought your counselors, headed by Vasudeva, who is no other than the Lord God Himself.

"'My hour has come. The thousand-rayed author of the day, the holy Surya has begun his course to the north. While I have been lying on this bed now for fifty-eight nights, stretched on the points of these darts, it seems like a hundred years to me. The month of Magha has come and soon I shall depart this world. And now at the hour of my death I wish to see my Lord Krishna, Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan.'"

Suta said, "And Krishna had descended his chariot and  was now before Bhishmadeva. Through half-closed eyes, Bhishma addressed him, saying, "O holy one, O god of all gods, O thou that art worshipped by all the deities and asuras, O thou that did cover the three worlds with three steps, I offer my humble obeisances to thee. 

O wielder of the conch, the chakra and the mace: You are Vasudev of golden body, the primal Purusha, the creator of all. O you of vast proprtions. 

You are the Supreme Paramatma. O lotus-eyed one, rescue me. O foremost of all beings, give me permission O Krishna to depart from this world. The Sons of Pandu were always protected by You. You are the sole refuge of all of us. I told Duryodhana that wherever there is Krishna, there is righteousness and where there is righteousness there is victory. Krishna is the master of all mystics and wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics together with Arjuna the supreme archer there will be victory. All this I said to the wicked Duryodhana, but I could not deter his will to war. 

And now by the will of Krishna, who is God Himself, there is peace. It is time for an old warrior to depart this world. Do thou, O Krishna, grant me leave to cast off this mortal body and attain to the highest end.'"

Suta Goswami said, "The sons of  Pandu  sitting silently nearby, were overtaken with affection for their dying grandfather. Seeing this, Bhishmadeva congratulated them with feeling. There were tears of ecstasy in his eyes, for he was overwhelmed by love and affection.

"Bhishmadeva "'What terrible sufferings and injustices you good souls have suffered for being the sons of dharma. It is a miracle that you all survived these terrible trials, and yet you were protected by the brahmanas, by Krishna, who is God Himself, and by your own principles of dharma even in the face of unspeakable dangers.

 Kunti became a widow when King Pandu died untimely. She became a widow with many children, and suffered greatly his absence. And when you were grown up she suffered a great deal as well because of the trials you all underwent. This is all due to inevitable time, under whose control everyone is moved, just as  clouds are moved by the wind.

"How wonderful is the influence of inevitable time. It is irreversible -- otherwise, how can there be reverses in the presence of King Yudhishthira, the son of the demigod controlling religion; Bhima, the great mace-fighter; Arjuna the great archer with his mighty bow Gandiva; and above all, the Lord Krishna, the direct well-wisher of the Pandavas?"

"But, O King, who can understand the ways of God? No one can know the plan of the Lord Krishna. Even  great philosophers inquire after his purpose and are bewildered.

O Yudhisthira: best of the sons of Bharata:  All these calamities fall within the plan of the Lord. His design is beyond our power of understanding, we have only to follow it. You are now the King of Hastinapura and India. It is time to beat swords into plowshares, to give up war and take up the cause of peace.  Now, my king, despite the hardships faced by your brothrs, your battles have ended. You must reign in peace and protect your citizens."

Krishna here before us is no other than God Himself,  Narayana, the supreme Purusha. He has walked among the descendants of King Vrishni as  one of us.  Confused by his mayic power, we fail to understand his true nature.  with His self-created energy. Yet while He is God Himself,  He has  come before me by his mercy at the hour of my death, for I have dedicated myself to him in unwavering service.

Lord Krishna, God Himself appears in the mind of those who dedicate themselves through devotion and by meditation. Thus he releases his servant from the chains of karma at the time of leaving this mortal body. And so I pray, "May my Lord, who is four-handed and whose beautifully decorated lotus face, with eyes as red as the rising sun, is smiling, kindly await me at that moment when I quit this material body. It is time for me to cast off my life-breaths. By your mercy, it is time for me to leave my mortal body. Seek the truth. Truth is the highest power. Live with saintly persons of righteous conduct. Keep faith with those who abstain from cruel behavior and harsh words."

Suta Goswami said: "Thereupon that man who spoke on different subjects with thousands of meanings and who fought on thousands of battlefields and protected thousands of men, stopped speaking and, being completely freed from all bondage, withdrew his mind from everything else and fixed his wide-open eyes upon the original Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, who stood before him, four-handed, dressed in yellow garments that glittered and shined.By pure meditation, looking at Lord Sri Krishna, he at once was freed from all material inauspiciousness and was relieved of all bodily pains caused by the arrow wounds. Thus all the external activities of his senses at once stopped, and he prayed transcendentally to the controller of all living beings while quitting his material body."

"Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, held his life-breaths successively in those parts of his body which are indicated in Yoga. The life-breaths of that high-souled one, restrained duly, then rose up. The life-breaths, having been restrained through yogic power pierced the crown of his head and proceeded upwards carrying his soul through the heavenly planes. Celestial kettle drums played as flowers showered from the sky. Perfected beings, yogis, mystics, saints and rishis were filled with delight. As they gazed into the sky they saw the life-breaths of Bhishma piercing the firmament like a blazing meteor as it raced higher and higher and finally faded from sight. 

"With this, the Pandavas and Vidura took a sufficient quantity of wood and various kinds of fragrances and sandalwood and prepared the funeral byre. The great souls gathered there stood as witnesses. Finally Yudhishtira and Vidura wrapped Bhishma's arrow pierced body with silken cloth and flower garlands. The funeral sacrifice was performed.  As the flames leaped higher and sent the smoke from the black aloe and bark wood to the heavens, the remaining Kurus along with Dhritarastra looked on.