The Supreme Brahman - Revealed by Bhīṣma Pitāmahā to the Pāṇḍavas
In the Śānti Parva of the Mahābhārata, there is a touching Stotra by Śrī Bhīṣmāchārya. He recognizes the Lord Nārāyaṇa as the Supreme Being, and as Śrī Kṛṣṇa who is standing before him.
It is an Incredibly touching Stotra of one who was such a great Jñāni, yet reduced to the bed of arrows, who has realized the supreme tattvas.
Also touching is fact that the Lord to whom it has been addressed to, is full of Auspicious attributes, who “amāni” as per the Sahasranāma (never proud), who stood respectfully at the side of Bhīṣma as though he was an inferior, exhibiting his sousīlya (accessibility).
Here is how the Adhyāya starts -
प्रवृत्तमात्रे त्वयनमुत्तरेण दिवाकरे। `शुक्लपक्षस्य चाष्टभ्यां माघमासस्य पार्थिव॥ प्राजापत्ये च नक्षत्रे मध्यं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे।' समावेशयदात्मानमात्मत्येव समाहितः॥ विकीर्णांशुरिवादित्यो भीष्मः शरशतैश्चितः। शुशुभे परया लक्ष्म्या वृतो ब्राह्मणसत्तमैः॥ 12.46.3-5
As soon as the sun, passing the solstitial point, entered Uttarayana, his northerly course, Bhīṣma, with the power of dhyana, caused his atman to enter his Atman. Surrounded by many of the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, that hero, his body pierced with innumerable arrows, blazed forth in lustrous beauty like Surya himself with his innumerable rays.
These are the names of the Great Brāhmaṇas present at the event.
(व्यासेन देवश्रवसा नारदेन सुरर्षिणा। देवस्थानेन वात्स्येन तथाऽश्मकसुमन्तुना॥ तथा जैमिनिना चैव पैलेन च महात्मना। शाण्डिल्यदेवलाभ्यां च मैत्रेयेण च धीमता॥ असितेन वसिष्ठेन कौशिकेन महात्मना। हारितलोमशाभ्यां च तथाऽऽत्रेयेण धीमता॥ बृहस्पतिश्च शुक्रश्च च्यवनश्च महामुनिः। सनत्कुमारः कपिलो चाल्मीकिस्तुम्बुरुः कुरुः॥ मौद्गल्यो भार्गवो रामस्तृणबिन्दुर्महामुनिः। पिप्पलादोऽथ वायुश्च सवर्तः पुलहः कचः॥ काश्यपश्च पुलस्त्यश्च क्रतुर्दक्षः पराशरः। मरीचिरङ्गिराः काश्यो गौतमो गालवो मुनिः॥ धौम्यो विभाण्डो माण्डव्योधौम्रः कृष्णानुभौतिकः। उलूकः परमो विप्रो मार्कण्डेयो महामुनिः। भास्करिः पूरणः कृष्णः सूतः परमधार्मिकः॥ एतैश्चान्यैर्मुनिगणैर्महाभागैर्महात्मभिः। श्रद्धादमशमोपेतैर्वृतश्चन्द्र इव ग्रहैः॥ 12.46.6-13)
Surrounded by Veda Vyasa, by the Devarishi Narada, by Devasthana, by Asmaka, Sumantu, by Jaimini, by the high-souled Paila, by Sandilya, by Devarata, by Maitreya of great intellect, by Asita and Vasishtha and the high-souled Kausika, by Harita and Lomasa and Atri’s son of genius, by Brihaspati and Sukra and the Maharishi Chyavana, by Sanatkumara and Kapila and Valmiki and Tumburu and Kuru, by Maudgalya and Rama of Bhrigu’s vamsa, and the great Muni Trinabindu, by Pippalada and Vayu and Samvarta and Pulaha and Katha, by Kasyapa and Pulastya and Kratu and Daksha and Parasara, by Marichi and Angiras and Kasmya and Gautama and the sage Galava, by Dhaumya and Vibhanda and Mandavya and Dhaumra and Krishnanubhautika, by Uluka, that foremost of Brahmanas, and the mighty Markandeya, by Bhaskari and Purana and Krishna and Suta.
Surrounded by these and many other highly blessed powerful sages, and possessed of faith and self-restraint and tranquility of mind, the Kuru hero looked like the moon in the midst of the planets and the stars.
Stretched out on his bed of arrows, Bhīṣma, with pure heart and palms joined, set his mind, thought and actions on Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
With a cheerful and strong voice he hymned the praises of the slayer of Madhu, the Master of Yoga with the lotus in his navel, the Lord of the universe, called Viṣṇu and Jishnu. With joined hands, that foremost of eloquent men, the puissant Bhīṣma of perfectly virtuous soul, praises Janārdana.
(Bhīṣmāchārya gives the Maṅgalācharana, before starting with the Stotra to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.)
भीष्म उवाच। आरिराधयिषुः कृष्णं वाचं जिगदिषामि याम्। तया व्याससमासिन्या प्रीयतां पुरुषोत्तमः॥ शुचिं शुचिपदं हंसं तत्परं परमेष्ठिनम्। युक्त्वा सर्वात्मनाऽऽत्मानं तं प्रपद्ये प्रजापतिम्॥ अनाद्यन्तं परं ब्रह्म न देवा नर्षयो विदुः। एकोऽयं वेद भगवान्धाता नारायणो हरिः॥ नारायणादृषिगणास्तथा सिद्धमहोरगाः। देवा देवर्षयश्चैव यं विदुर्दुःखभेषजम्॥ देवदानवगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः। यं न जानन्ति को ह्येष कुतो वा भगवानिति॥ 12.46.17-21
Bhīṣma says, “O Śrī Kṛṣṇa, O foremost of Beings, be you pleased with these words that I utter, in brief and in detail, from my desire to hymn your praises. You are pure and purity’s self. You transcend all. You are what people say to be THAT. You are the Supreme Lord. With my whole heart I seek your refuge, O universal Soul and Lord of all creatures! You are without beginning and without end. You are the highest of the high and Brahman. Neither the Devas nor the Rishis know you. The divine Creator, called Nārāyaṇa or Hari, alone knows you. The Rishis, the Siddhas, the great Nagas, the Devas, and the celestial Rishis know a little of you. You are the highest of the high and know no deterioration. The Devas, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Pannagas do not know who you are and whence you came.
यमाहुर्जगतः कोशं यस्मिंश्च निहिताः प्रजाः। यस्मिँल्लोकाः स्फुरन्त्येते जाले शकुनयो यथा॥ यस्मिन्विश्वानि भूतानि तिष्ठन्ति च विशन्ति च। गुणभूतानि भूतेशे सूत्रे मणिगणा इव॥ यं च विश्वस्य कर्तारं जगतस्तस्थुषां पतिम् वदन्ति जगतोऽध्यक्षमध्यात्मपरिचिन्तकाः॥ यस्मिन्नित्ये तते तन्तौ दृढे स्रगिव तिष्ठति। सदसद्ग्रथितं विश्वं विश्वाङ्गे विश्वकर्मणि॥ 12.46.22-25
All the worlds and all created things live in you and enter you when the dissolution comes. Like gems strung together on a thread, all things that have attributes reside in you, the Supreme Lord. Having the universe for your work and for your limbs, this universe consisting of mind and matter resides in your eternal and all-pervading soul like a multitude of flowers strung together by a strong thread.
The Subject matter of Vedānta
प्राहुर्नारायणं देवं यं विश्वस्य परायणम्। अणीयसामणीयांसं स्थविष्ठं च स्थवीयसाम्। गरीयसां गरिष्ठं च श्रेष्ठं च श्रेयसामपि॥ चं वाकेष्वनुवाकेषु निषत्सूपनिषत्सु च। गृणन्ति सत्यकर्माणं सत्यं सत्येषु सामसु॥ चतुर्भिश्चतुरात्मानं सत्वस्थं सात्वतां पतिम्। यं दिव्यैर्देवमर्चन्ति गुह्यैः परमनामभिः॥ यस्मिन्नित्यं तपस्तप्तं यदङ्गेष्वनुतिष्ठति। सर्वात्मा सर्ववित्सर्वः सर्वज्ञः सर्वभावनः॥ 12.46.27-30
You are called Nārāyaṇa, divinity, and the refuge of the universe. You are the subtlest of the subtle, grossest of the gross, the heaviest of the heavy and the highest of the high. In the Vāks, the Anuvāks, the Niṣads, and Upaniṣads, You are regarded as the Supreme Being of irresistible force. In the Sāmāns also, whose declarations are always true, you are regarded as Truth’s self. You are of 4 Vyūhas, Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣana, Pradyumna, Anniruddha. You are displayed in only the understanding of all creatures. You are the Lord of those that are bound to you in faith. O God, you are adored by the faithful with four excellent, high, and secret names.
Penances are ever present in you. Performed by other creatures to gratify you, penances live in your form. You are the Universal Soul. You are of universal knowledge. You are the universe. You are omniscient, omnipresent, You are the Creator of all.
पुराणे पुरुषं प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मप्रोक्तं युगादिषु। क्षये संकर्षणं प्रोक्तं तमुपास्यमुपास्महे॥ यमेकं बहुधात्मानं प्रादुर्भूतमधोक्षजम्। नान्यभक्ताः क्रियावन्तो यजन्ते सर्वकामदम्॥ ऋतमेकाक्षरं ब्रह्म यत्तत्सदसतः परम्। अनादिमध्यपर्यन्तं न देवा नर्षयो विदुः॥ 12.46.34-36
In the Purāṇas you have been spoken of as Purusha. On occasions of the commencement of yugas, you are said to be Brahma, while on occasions of universal dissolution you are spoken of as Sankarshana. Adorable you are, and therefore I worship you. Though one, you have yet been born in innumerable forms. You have your passions under perfect control. Your devout worshippers, faithfully performing the rites laid down in the scriptures, sacrifice to you, O granter of every wish!
You are called the sheath within which the universe lies. All created things live in you. Like swans and ducks swimming on the water, all the worlds that we see float in you. You are Truth. You are One and undecaying. You are Brahman, you are That which is beyond Mind and Matter.
(Now begins the Stavarāja, where only the important Ślokas are shown, as this Stotra contains 94 Ślokas)
अथ भीष्मस्तवराजः॥
हिरण्यवर्णं यं गर्भमदितिर्दैत्यनाशनम्। एकं द्वादशधा जज्ञे तस्मै सूर्यात्मने नमः॥ शुक्ले देवान्पितॄन्कृष्णे तर्पयत्यमृतेन यः। यश्च राजा द्विजातीनां तस्मै सोमात्मने नमः॥ 12.46.39-40
Which abode (of the sun), that is golden hued, brought forth by Aditī, as one that is in 12 forms for the destruction of the daityas, Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the inner controller of the Sun (Sūryātmā)! That which by virtue of its’ ambrosia satiates the gods in the bright half of the fortnight and the Pitṛs by the dark fortnight, which also rules (ie, is sought after by) the Kings and Dvijas, Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the inner controller of Soma (Somātma)!
(Skipping some Verses as Nārāyaṇastra Blog have explained these Ślokas in a better manner, find it here from the link here)
Sri Bhishma Stavam - Narayanastra Blogspot
यस्मात्सर्गाः प्रवर्तन्ते सर्गप्रलयविक्रियाः। यस्मिंश्चैव प्रलीयन्ते तस्मै हेत्वात्मने नमः॥ यो निषण्णो भवेद्रात्रौ दिवा भवति विष्ठितः। इष्टानिष्टस्य च द्रष्टा तस्मै द्रष्ट्रात्मने नमः॥ अकार्यः सर्वकार्येषु धर्मकार्यार्थमुद्यतः। वैकुण्ठस्य हि तद्रूपं तस्मै कार्यात्मने नमः॥ 12.46.64-66
From which the creations and the reactions of creation and annihilation are initiated, And in Whom also it Dissolves. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the one who is the cause of everything (Hetu Ātma). He who is seated at night becomes positioned during the day.
Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the seer of desirable and undesirable (Dṛṣṭātma). He is inactive in all his duties and is ready to do the work of righteousness. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the form of Vaikuṇṭha (Kāryātma).
वैद्युतो जाठरश्चैव पावकः शुचिरेव च। दहनः सर्वभक्षाणां तस्मै वह्न्यात्मने नमः॥ रसातलगतः श्रीमार्ननन्तो भगवान्प्रभुः। जगद्धारयते योऽसौ तस्मै शेषात्मने नमः॥ ज्वलनार्केन्दुताराणां ज्योतिषां दिव्यमूर्तिनाम्। यस्तेजयति तेजांसि तस्मै तेजात्मने नमः॥ 12.46.73-75
To support the life-breaths you eat the four kinds of food. Assuming also the form of Agni within the belly, you digest that food. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, in your form of assimilating Heat (Vahyātmā)!
Assuming the form of the handsome, illustrious and puissant Ananta in the Pātalas, you support the world. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who sustains the universe by his might (Śeśātma). They are the divine forms of the luminaries of the flaming sun, moon and stars. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose effulgence illuminates the effulgence (Tejātmā)!
Līlāvatāras - Matsya, Kūrma, Varāha, Narasiṃha
मत्स्यो भूत्वा विरिञ्चाय येन वेदाः समाहृताः। रसातलगतः शीघ्रं तस्मै मत्स्यात्मने नमः॥ मन्दराद्रिर्धृतो येन प्राप्ते ह्यमृतमन्थने। अतिकर्कशदेहाय तस्मै कूर्मात्मने नमः॥ वाराहं रूपमास्थाय महीं सवनपर्वताम्। उद्धरत्येकदंष्ट्रेण तस्मै क्रोडात्मने नमः॥ नारसिंहवपुः कृत्वा सर्वलोकभयंकरम्। हिरण्यकशिपुं जघ्ने तस्मै सिंहात्मने नमः॥ पिङ्गेक्षणसटं यस्य रूपं दंष्ट्रानखैर्युतम्। दानवेन्द्रान्तकरणं तस्मै दृप्तात्मने नमः॥ 2.46.92-96
He who became a fish and collected the Vedas for Brahmā. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is Matsyāvatāra, who quickly reached the bottom of the ocean (Matsyātmā)! He who lifted mount Mandara when he reached the churning of nectar Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is Kūrmāvatāra, who had a very stiff body (Kūrmātma).
He assumed the form of a boar and lifted the Earth along with forests and mountains. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Varāhāvatāra, who lifts all up with one tusk (Krodātmā)! He assumed the form of a lion and was terrible to all the worlds. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is Nṛsiṃha one who killed Hiranyakasipu (Siṃhātmā)! He had tawny eyes and tawny mane, with teeth and claws for your weapons. Salutations to Narasimha, the fierce and powerful one (Dṛptātmā)!
Vāmana, Paraśurāma
वामनं रूपमास्थाय बलिं संयम्य मायया। त्रैलोक्यं क्रान्तवान्यस्तु तस्मै क्रान्तात्मने नमः॥ जमदग्निसुतो भूत्वा रामः शस्त्रभृतां वरः। महीं निःक्षत्रियां चक्रे तस्मै रामात्मने नमः॥ त्रिःसप्तकृत्वो यश्चैको धर्मे व्युत्क्रान्तिगौरवात्। जघान क्षत्रियान्सङ्ख्ये तस्मै क्रोधात्मने नमः॥ 12.46.97-99
He assumed the form of Vāmana Avatāra and restrained Bali by his Potency. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has stepped the three worlds (Krāntātmā)! Being the son of Jamadagni, Paraśurāma is the best among the wielders of weapons. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, in his form of Bhārgava Rāma, made the earth devoid of those Evil Kṣatriyas (Rāmātmā)! Salutations to Paraśurāma, the Wrathful one, who killed the Deviated Kṣatriyas in battle, For the dignity of Dharma, and did it alone 21 times. (Krodhātmā)!
Śrī Rāma, Balarāma, Śrī Kṛṣṇa
रामो दशिरथिर्भूत्वा पुलस्त्यकुलनन्दनम्। जघान रावणं सङ्ख्ये तस्मै क्षत्रात्मने नमः॥ यो हली मुसली श्रीमान्नीलाम्बरधरः स्थितः। रामाय रौहिणेयाय तस्मै भोगात्मने नमः॥ 12.46.101-102
Śrī Rāma became the son of Daśaratha and the delight of the Pulastya dynasty, he killed Ravana in battle. Salutations to Śrī Rāma, the best of the Kṣatriyas (Kṣatrātmā)! He has handsome form, dressed with clad in blue robes. Salutations to Balarāma, the son of Rohinī, who is the source of pleasure (Bhogātmā)!
शङ्खिने चक्रिणे नित्यं शार्ङ्गिणे पीतवाससे। वनमालाधरायैव तस्मै कृष्णात्मने नमः॥ वसुदेवसुतः श्रीमान्क्रीडितो नन्दगोकुले। कंसस्य निधनार्थाय तस्मै क्रीडात्मने नमः॥ वासुदेवत्वमागम्य यदोर्वंशसमुद्भवः। भूभारहरणं चक्रे तस्मै कृष्णात्मने नमः॥ सारथ्यमर्जुनस्याजौ कुर्वन्गीतामृतं ददौ। लोकत्रयोपकाराय तस्मै ब्रह्मात्मने नमः॥ 12.46.103-106
The Eternal one who holds the Pāñcajanya, the Sudarśana, the Śāraṅga, wearing clad of Yellow robes, Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the one who wears a garland of forest flowers (Kṛṣṇātmā)! He is the handsome son of Vasudeva who did his astonishing Līlās at Nanda's Gokula. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the sporting one who came and killed Kaṁsa (Krīḍātmā)!
He who is known as Vāsudeva, the Supreme Lord who took Avatāra in the Yadu Vamśa. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who relieved the burden of the earth by slaying Asuras (Kṛṣṇātmā)! For the benifit of the 3 Worlds, He gave the Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā to Arjuna in the chariot during the battle. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the Para-Brahma (Brahman Ātmā)!
Buddha and Kalki
दानवांस्तु वशे कृत्वा पुनर्बुद्धत्वमागतः। सर्गस्य रक्षणार्थाय तस्मै बुद्धात्मने नमः॥ हनिष्यति कलौ प्राप्ते म्लेच्छांस्तुरगवाहनः। धर्मसंस्थापको यस्तु तस्मै कल्क्यात्मने नमः॥ 12.46.107-108
Having subdued the demons, he attained enlightenment again. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who takes the form of Buddha, for the sake of protecting creation (Buddhātmā)!
When the Age of Kali comes to a close, he will kill the Mlechhas by riding on a horse. Salutations to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is Kalki Avatāra who will establish Dharma (Kalki Ātmā)!
The Omni-Perfect
What happened after that
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