Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Bheeshma Stuti, Middle Part

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Hari Om ||

Om Krishnaya Namah

कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय देवकीनन्दनाय च ।

नन्दगोपकुमाराय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः ॥

Sri Krishna! Being a hope to the imprisoned Devaki & Vasudeva caused happiness by mesmerizing Nandagopa, Gopikas and even the Goddess of abundant beauty. Vasudeva! creation, sustenance, destruction and so on is a sports charm of you. Govinda! you are the cause & protector of Vedas.

Krishna, Vasudeva, Devaki Nandana, Nanda Gopa Kumara, Govinda, 
My repeated salutations to you.

नमः पङ्कजनाभाय नमः पङ्कजमालिने ।

नमः पङ्कजनेत्राय नमस्ते पङ्कजाङ्घ्रये ॥

My salutations to the Lotus of the navel. My salutations to the Lotus garlanded.

My salutations to Lotus petal eye. My salutations to the Lotus feet.

व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।

हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥

Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.

यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।

संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥

This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.

यद्भनौ यत्क्र्शानौ यदमृतकिरणे यद् ग्रहेषू दितेषु

ज्योतिर्यत्तारकासु प्रथितमणिषु यद्यच्च सौदामिनिषु ।

सम्भूयौतत् समस्तं त्वदमितह्रदयाकाशनिर्यत्प्रकाशे

धीर श्रीराघवेन्द्रव्रतिवरभजते हन्त खद्योतरीतिम् ॥

The brightness of the Sun, Fire, Moon, Planets, Stars, Gems, Precious stones and Lightening put together is just like a firefly near the astonishing brilliance emanating from your lotus of Heart wherein the five forms of Lord Sri Rama, Sri Narasimha, Sri Veda Vyasa, Sri Krishna and Sriman Narayana are present in a significant way bestowing you the Brahmavarchas or the Sacred Knowledge.

Gentle & Holy Sage, Sri Raghvendra, भजते, I worship you by surrendering myself.

Like the cow pulls back the cud from the stomach to re-chew, Sri Bheeshmacharya recalls the incidences in the war of Kurukshetra. Before the war of Kurukshetra, both Pandavas and Kauravas approach Lord Sri Krishna requesting him to fight on their side. Incidentally, both approaches at the same time. Arjuna representing Pandavas and Duryodhana himself from Kauravas. Sri Krishna will be lying in his yoga Nidra. While Duryodhana comes first, engulfed in his ego thinks that he is the prince of the Kuru dynasty and stands near the head of Sri Krishna. However, Arjuna waits near the Lotus feet of Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna sees Arjuna waiting for him as he wakes up and later Duryodhana.
Seeing Arjuna first and recognizing that Duryodhana too had come first, Lord Sri Krishna says that he and his children together will fight the war on both sides. He proposes that his million sons whom he had from his 16,000 wives would fight with weapons on one side. He himself would be on the opposite side. And would not take-up any weapons during the war. Sri Krishna gives the first choice to Arjuna to select his million sons or himself to fight on their side.
Meantime, Duruodhana gets jittery worrying if Arjuna would choose Sri Krishna’s million sons to their advantage. Surprising to Duryodhana, Arjuna the dear devotee of Sri Krishna says, 'My Lord! Whether you take up weapons or not, we want you to be on our side'. Subsequently, Arjuna requests Sri Krishna to be his charioteer and Sri Krishna accepts the same. Duryodhana feels relaxed and happy. He thinks with an affirmative question, “What is the point of having Sri Krishna who is not going to take-up weapon and fight?”
This incidence including the vow of Sri Krishna that he would not take-up any weapons during the war was apprised by Duryodhana to Sri Bheeshmacharya. Hearing that, Sri Bheeshmacharya takes-up a contrary vow that he will make sure that Sri Krishna takes-up the weapon.
Later, the battle between Pandavas and Kauravas starts. Sri Bheeshmacharya fights in full vigor raining arrows in all directions of Pandavas. He kills about 10,000 soldiers a day. Seeing the aggression of Sri Bheeshmacharya's attack, the soldiers of Pandavas start fleeing from the battleground. Arjuna and Bheemasena had the ability to stop Sri Bheeshmacharya and kill him. However, Arjuna who was fighting against Sri Bheeshmacharya was only defending with a soft hand. He did not see his grandfather as an enemy standing with evil Duryodhana. He did not want to kill his grandfather, teachers, and acharyas. He went soft on the aggressive and attacking Sri Bheeshmacharya.
Turning the chariot towards Sri Bheeshmacharya, Sri Krishna exhibited superb skills of negotiating to the enemy attack, their rain of arrows and their other weapons. Sri Krishna took the chariot on the battlefield with agility, quickness, and intelligence. The attacking positions of the chariot gave the most advantageous position to Arjuna for archery.
Sri Bheeshmacharya was raining arrows from all directions. He even stopped the sunlight to reach Arjuna’s chariot. He was injuring the Horses, Arjuna and even damaged the chariot. Sri Krishna too appeared as if injured and bleeding.  However, Arjuna was not considerate of any of this. He allowed the Elephants, Camels, Horses and so many foot soldiers to die. And much more vulnerable to injury & death. Sri Krishna appeared utterly dissatisfied and angry on the battlefield. Yet, Arjuna remained sober.
The attacking Sri Bheeshmacharya appeared as bright midday summer Sun, unable to be seen with naked eyes. It became hard to see him, his skillful, speedy & sharp way of delivering arrows, the agility & the speed of his movements were all exemplary. Unseeable. The chariots were coming down crashing with the hit of steel arrows powered by Sri Bheeshmacharya. Many more chariots were damaged. Elephants, Camels, Horses were all getting killed. The soldiers on the Pandava side were fleeing for their life. No amount of encouragement held them back. The battle appeared as if it was a walkover. Kauravas cheered.
Sri Bheeshmacharya stringing the bow expressed his power. Also, he roared like a lion on the battlefield. Arjuna escalated his defense. Making a counter sound by stringing his bow Gandiva, Arjuna shot three quick arrows. The projectiles powered accurately, picked up high speed hitting Sri Bheeshmacharya’s bow breaking it down. But Sri Bheeshmacharya did not get deterred. Swiftly, he picked up another bow in the chariot and started showering arrows. On the other hand, Arjuna continued breaking down the bows. This exchange of attack and counterattack continued. Sri Bheeshmacharya was pleased with his grandson’s archery. He appreciated the cleverness & the swiftness of Arjuna. He complimented Arjuna by saying, ‘Pandu was a great warrior. You are his worthy son’.
Sri Bheeshmacharya had set his eye on Sri Krishna. His objective was to make Sri Krishna take up a weapon. Hence, Sri Bheeshmacharya was raining arrows on the charioteer and the chariot horse. Sri Krishna was skilfully ducking the arrows and saving the horses. Sri Krishna notes the way Arjuna putting-up a meager fight against Sri Bheeshmacharya. The actual fight he has to put-up, even while having respect, though.
Satyaki comes stopping Sri Bheeshmacharya, but in vain. He shouts to the soldiers, not to flee as that would not speak well of their valor and gallantry as Kshatriya soldiers. Yet, Arjuna does not realize his responsibility. Hence, Sri Krishna announced that he himself would attack Sri Bheeshmacharya.

Chakrapani 

Sri Krishna threw the rein and the whip aside. He raised his right-hand index finger and called the disc, Sudarshana. Everyone on the battlefield was flabbergasted seeing the Chakrapani holding the disc, Sudarshana with the brightness of 10 million Suns.
Holding the disc, Sri Krishna jumped from the chariot on the earth. The earth tremored. Appearing furious, Sri Krishna walked towards Bheeshmacharya. Happy looking Bheeshmacharya welcomed Sri Krishna saying, 'Lord! It would be a privilege to me to die at your hands'.
Seeing this, Arjuna woke up.  He ran towards Sri Krishna stopping him. He promised that he will uphold Sri Krishna's words of not taking up any weapon and fight. Sri Krishna did not heed. Arjuna held Sri Krishna's left hand pulling back. But Sri Krishna shook off his hand throwing back Arjuna. He headed towards Bheeshmacharya like a Lion, the King of the forest heading towards an intoxicated wild elephant to leap and break his forehead. As Sri Krishna roared forward, Arjuna chased and held the Almighty's lotus feet. Sri Krishna dragged Arjuna almost ten steps forward. Arjuna pleaded and swore by his son's life. Also, sworn by each of his brother's life. He committed his utmost to fight Sri Bheeshmacharya. Sri Krishna accepted and returned to the chariot without further engaging Sri Bheeshmacharya in a fight.
Remembering the incidences of Kurukshetra, Sri Bheeshmacharya lying on the bed of arrows sang the Glory of the Lord before the Pranotkramana or breadth-departure,

श्रीभीष्म उवाच

इति मतिरुपकल्पिता वितृष्णा भगवति सात्वतपुङ्गवे विभूम्नि ।

स्वसुखमुपगते क्वचिद्विहर्तुं प्रकृतिमुपेयुषि यद्भवप्रवाहः ॥ ३२॥

Oh! My Lord, इति मतिरुपकल्पिता, I am submitting the whole of my mind and intellect to your Lotus feet during the last moments of my life. The crystal clear & clean knowledge that I have gained after intense practice & Anustana is only because of your blessing and is only yours. Now, my mind is full of you and only you.

वितृष्णा, Sri Krishna! I have no other desire other than your Lotus feet. सात्वतपुङ्गवे or Appearing in the Vrishni clan who practice all that is said in Panchatantra, you are विभूम्नि having a special and unique attribute of completeness. Though, Goddess Mahalakshmi is complete, that is only because of your blessings. Also, many of the beings have accomplished Mukti have completeness in their own right and extent to their capacity through only your blessings. But, your’s is special and unique, my Lord! But, being complete is your intrinsic attribute, independent of others, surpassing all others and is most complete.     

You are स्वसुखमुपगते oh! My Lord. You are a treasure house of Ananda or bliss. In fact, you are made of bliss and need not seek elsewhere. Yet, क्वचिद्विहर्तुं, you take-up this pleasure trip of creation by प्रकृतिमुपेयुषि or bringing Chetana Prakriti or Goddess Lakshmi closer to you and यद्भवप्रवाहः or the Prakriti that sets forth the flow of Samsara or the cycle of birth & death. This way creation has become your pass-time. In such अद्य or the first supreme Lord Sriman Narayana, my mind has been fixed.

त्रिभुवनकमनं तमालवर्णं रविकरगौरवराम्बरं दधाने ।

वपुरलककुलावृताननाब्जं विजयसखे रतिरस्तु मेऽनवद्या ॥ ३३॥

My Lord! विजयसखे, your friends are always victorious. You are a friend of Pandavas. रतिरस्तु मे, Please give me the endless bliss. Lord! Let that bliss be अनवद्य or having no blemishes associated with exterior sensory organs.  But the Svaroopa Ananda or bliss felt by Jiva or Atma.

My Lord! त्रिभुवनकमनं. You have a very beautiful body having a dark color like तमालवर्णं  or the darkness in bay leaves. You are very attractive, the color of अम्बरं or robes is गौरव or Saffron-Yellow like रविकर the golden hue of the young rising Sun, the sporty-looking curly hair dangling down on your face. You appear to only worthy Jivas of all the regions of the universe. You are so attractive. Seeing you, these worthy Jivas wonder.

Oh! My Lord, I am wearing such a beautiful form of you on my memory through Dharana Yoga. Please bless me with endless bliss having no blemishes.      

Let's pray to Hari, Vayu, and Gurus for their continued Jnana Prasada to take a look at the balance part of Bheeshma Stuti.

  || Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||