BHISHMA'S REVELATION

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > ARGHYAHARANA PARVA > CHAPTER 37 - BHISHMA'S REVELATION

“Vaishampaayana said,’Then the king Yudhishthira quickly ran towards Shishupaala and spoke to him sweetly and in a peacemaking tone the following words, ‘O lord of earth (Shishupaala), what you have said is hardly proper for you. O king, it is highly sinful and needlessly cruel. Do not insult Bhishma, O king, by saying that he does not know what Dharma is. Look, these many kings, older than you are, all approve of the worship offered to (Sri) Krishna. It is your responsibility to bear it patiently like them. O ruler of Chedi, Bhishma knows (Sri) Krishna truly. You do know Him so well as this one of the Kuru race.’”

“Bhishma also, after this, said, ‘He that does not approve the worship offered to (Sri) Krishna, the oldest one in the universe, deserves neither soft words nor peacemaking. The chief of warriors of the Kshatriya race who having overcome a Kshatriya in battle and brought him under his power, sets him free, becomes the Guru of the vanquished one. I do not see in this assembly of kings even one ruler of men who has not been vanquished in battle by the energy (Tejas in Sanskrit) of this son of the Saatwataa race (Sri Krishna). This one (meaning Sri Krishna) here, of pure glory, deserves to be worshipped (Archaneeyam in Sanskrit) not by ourselves alone, but being of mighty arms, He deserves to be worshipped by the three worlds also. Innumerable warriors among Kshatriyas have been vanquished in battle by (Sri) Krishna.

“The whole universe without limit is established in Him of the Vrishni race (Sri Krishna). Therefore, do we worship (Sri) Krishna among the best and the oldest, and not others. It is your duty not to say so. Let your understanding be never so. I have, O king (Shishupaala), waited upon many persons that are old in knowledge (not just in age but also in knowledge). I have heard from all those wise men, while talking; of the numerous much-regarded attributes (Guna in Sanskrit) of the accomplished Shauri. I have also heard many times all the acts recited by people that (Sri) Krishna of great intelligence has performed since His birth.

“O king of Chedi (Shishupaala), we do not from fancy or keeping in view our relationship or the benefits He may confer on us, worship Janaarddana (Sri Krishna) who is worshipped by the good on earth and who is the source of the happiness of every creature. We have offered to Him the first worship because of His fame, His heroism (Shauryam in Sanskrit), His success. There is none here of even tender years whom we have not taken into consideration. Passing over many persons that are foremost for their virtues (Guna in Sanskrit), we have regarded Hari as deserving of the first worship (Architam in Sanskrit). Among the Brahmanas – one that is superior in knowledge, among the Kshatriyas – one that is superior in strength, among the Vaishyaas – one that is superior in possessions and wealth, and among the Shoodraas – one that is superior in years, deserves to be worshipped.

“In the matter of the worship offered to Govinda (Sri Krishna), there are two reasons – knowledge of the Vedas and their branches (Vedaanga in Sanskrit), and also excess of strength (Balam in Sanskrit). Who else is there in the world of men except Keshava (Sri Krishna) that is so distinguished? Indeed, liberality (Daanam in Sanskrit), cleverness (Daakshyam in Sanskrit), knowledge of the Vedas, bravery, modesty, achievements, excellent intelligence, humility, beauty, firmness, contentment and prosperity – all dwell for ever in Achyuta (Sri Krishna). Therefore, O kings, it is your duty to approve of the worship (Architam in Sanskrit) that has been offered to (Sri) Krishna who is of great accomplishments, who as the Aachaarya, the father, the guru, is worthy of the Arghya and deserving of (everybody’s) worship.

“Hrishikesha (Sri Krishna) is the Ritwija, the Guru, worthy of being solicited to accept one’s daughter in marriage, the Snaataka, the king, the friend: therefore, has Achyuta (Sri Krishna) been worshipped by us. (Sri) Krishna is the origin of the universe and that in which the universe is to dissolve. Indeed, this universe of mobile and immobile creatures has sprung into existence from (Sri) Krishna only. He is the unmanifest primal cause (Avyakta Prakriti in Sanskrit), the creator (Kartaa in Sanskrit), the eternal (Sanaatana in Sanskrit), and beyond the knowledge or understanding of all creatures. Therefore, does He of unfading glory (Sri Krishna) deserve highest worship. The intellect, the seat of sensibility, the five elements – air, heat, water, ether, earth, and the four species of beings (the one born out of egg, the one born from the body of the parent, born of filthy damp and plant life) are all established in (Sri) Krishna. The Sun, the Moon, the (star) constellations, the planets, all the principal directions, the intermediate directions, are all established in (Sri) Krishna. As the Agnihotra is the foremost among all Vedic yagnas, as the Gayatri is the foremost among (poetic) metres (Chandas in Sanskrit), as the king is the foremost among men, as the ocean is the foremost among all rivers, as the moon is the foremost among all constellations, as the Sun is the foremost among all shining bodies, as the Meru is the foremost among all mountains, as Garuda is the foremost among all birds, so as long as the upward, downward, and sideway course of the universe lasts, Keshava (Sri Krishna) is the foremost in all the worlds including the regions of Devas.

“This Shishupaala is a mere boy and hence he knows not (Sri) Krishna, and always and everywhere speaks of (Sri) Krishna thus. This ruler of Chedi will never see Dharma in that light in which one that is desirous of acquiring high merit will see it. Who is there among the old and the young or among these illustrious lords of earth that does not regard (Sri) Krishna as deserving of worship or that does not worship (Sri) Krishna? If Shishupaala regards this worship (Pooja in Sanskrit) as undeserved, it is his duty to do what is proper in this matter.’”