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Bhishma Stuti Meaning — Line by Line

भीष्म स्तुति

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Bhishma Stuti with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. iti matir-upakalpitā vitṛṣṇā
  2. Verse 2. tri-bhuvana-kamanaṃ tamāla-varṇaṃ
  3. Verse 3. yudhi turaga-rajo-vidhūmra-viṣvak-
  4. Verse 4. sapadi sakhi-vaco niśamya madhye
  5. Verse 5. vyavahita-pṛtanā-mukhaṃ nirīkṣya
  6. Verse 6. sva-nigamam-apahāya mat-pratijñām-
  7. Verse 7. śita-viśikha-hato viśīrṇa-daṃśaḥ
  8. Verse 8. vijaya-ratha-kuṭumba ātta-totre
  9. Verse 9. lalita-gati-vilāsa-valgu-hāsa-
  10. Verse 10. muni-gaṇa-nṛpa-varya-saṅkule'ntaḥ
  11. Verse 11. tam-imam-aham-ajaṃ śarīra-bhājāṃ
Verse 1#

iti matir-upakalpitā vitṛṣṇā

इति मतिरुपकल्पिता वितृष्णा भगवति सात्वतपुङ्गवे विभूम्नि स्वसुखमुपगते क्वचिद्विहर्तुं प्रकृतिमुपेयुषि यद्भवप्रवाहः

iti matir-upakalpitā vitṛṣṇā bhagavati sātvata-puṅgave vibhūmni | sva-sukham-upagate kvacid-vihartuṃ prakṛtim-upeyuṣi yad-bhava-pravāhaḥ ||

MeaningThus, free of all craving, I fix my mind upon the all-pervading Lord, the foremost of the Satvatas, who, ever absorbed in His own bliss, occasionally descends to sport and assumes a form, and from whom the whole stream of existence flows.

Verse 2#

tri-bhuvana-kamanaṃ tamāla-varṇaṃ

त्रिभुवनकमनं तमालवर्णं रविकरगौरवराम्बरं दधाने वपुरलककुलावृताननाब्जं विजयसखे रतिरस्तु मेऽनवद्या

tri-bhuvana-kamanaṃ tamāla-varṇaṃ ravi-kara-gaura-varāmbaraṃ dadhāne | vapur-alaka-kulāvṛtānanābjaṃ vijaya-sakhe ratir-astu me'navadyā ||

MeaningMay my pure, flawless love rest upon Him, the friend of Arjuna — the most beautiful of all the three worlds, dark-hued like the tamala tree, wearing yellow robes radiant as the sun's rays, His lotus face framed by curling locks.

Verse 3#

yudhi turaga-rajo-vidhūmra-viṣvak-

युधि तुरगरजोविधूम्रविष्वक्- कचलुलितश्रमवार्यलङ्कृतास्ये मम निशितशरैर्विभिद्यमान- त्वचि विलसत्कवचेऽस्तु कृष्ण आत्मा

yudhi turaga-rajo-vidhūmra-viṣvak- kaca-lulita-śrama-vāry-alaṅkṛtāsye | mama niśita-śarair-vibhidyamāna- tvaci vilasat-kavace'stu kṛṣṇa ātmā ||

MeaningUpon the battlefield, His face greyed by the dust of the horses' hooves and beautified by drops of perspiration, His skin pierced by my sharp arrows, His armour glittering — may my soul rest upon that Krishna.

Verse 4#

sapadi sakhi-vaco niśamya madhye

सपदि सखिवचो निशम्य मध्ये निजपरयोर्बलयो रथं निवेश्य स्थितवति परसैनिकायुरक्ष्णा हृतवति पार्थसखे रतिर्ममास्तु

sapadi sakhi-vaco niśamya madhye nija-parayor-balayo rathaṃ niveśya | sthitavati para-sainikāyur-akṣṇā hṛtavati pārtha-sakhe ratir-mamāstu ||

MeaningAt once, on hearing the words of His friend, He drove the chariot into the midst of both armies, and there, by His mere glance, He shortened the lifespan of the opposing soldiers — may my love be fixed upon that friend of Partha.

Verse 5#

vyavahita-pṛtanā-mukhaṃ nirīkṣya

व्यवहितपृतनामुखं निरीक्ष्य स्वजनवधाद्विमुखस्य दोषबुद्ध्या कुमतिमहरदात्मविद्यया यश्- चरणरतिः परमस्य तस्य मेऽस्तु

vyavahita-pṛtanā-mukhaṃ nirīkṣya sva-jana-vadhād-vimukhasya doṣa-buddhyā | kumatim-aharad-ātma-vidyayā yaś- caraṇa-ratiḥ paramasya tasya me'stu ||

MeaningWhen, seeing me at the head of the army, Arjuna drew back from killing his kinsmen, thinking it a sin, the Lord dispelled his confusion by imparting spiritual knowledge — may I be devoted to the feet of that Supreme One.

Verse 6#

sva-nigamam-apahāya mat-pratijñām-

स्वनिगममपहाय मत्प्रतिज्ञा- मृतमधिकर्तुमवप्लुतो रथस्थः धृतरथचरणोऽभ्ययाच्चलद्गु- र्हरिरिव हन्तुमिभं गतोत्तरीयः

sva-nigamam-apahāya mat-pratijñām- ṛtam-adhi-kartum-avapluto ratha-sthaḥ | dhṛta-ratha-caraṇo'bhyayāc-calad-gur- harir-iva hantum-ibhaṃ gatottarīyaḥ ||

MeaningTo make my vow come true, He broke His own promise (not to fight): leaping down from the chariot, seizing its wheel, His upper garment falling, He rushed at me as a lion charges an elephant, the earth trembling beneath His feet.

Verse 7#

śita-viśikha-hato viśīrṇa-daṃśaḥ

शितविशिखहतो विशीर्णदंशः क्षतजपरिप्लुत आततायिनो मे प्रसभमभिससार मद्वधार्थं भवतु मे भगवान्गतिर्मुकुन्दः

śita-viśikha-hato viśīrṇa-daṃśaḥ kṣataja-paripluta ātatāyino me | prasabham-abhisasāra mad-vadhārthaṃ sa bhavatu me bhagavān-gatir-mukundaḥ ||

MeaningStruck by my sharp arrows, His shield shattered, His body smeared with blood, He furiously charged forward to slay me, the aggressor — may that Lord Mukunda be my goal.

Verse 8#

vijaya-ratha-kuṭumba ātta-totre

विजयरथकुटुम्ब आत्ततोत्रे धृतहयरश्मिनि तच्छ्रियेक्षणीये भगवति रतिरस्तु मे मुमूर्षो- र्यमिह निरीक्ष्य हता गताः स्वरूपम्

vijaya-ratha-kuṭumba ātta-totre dhṛta-haya-raśmini tac-chriyekṣaṇīye | bhagavati ratir-astu me mumūrṣor- yam-iha nirīkṣya hatā gatāḥ sva-rūpam ||

MeaningMay my love at this moment of death rest upon the Lord, holding the whip and the reins of the horses of Arjuna's chariot, His beauty matchless to behold — those who gazed upon Him here on the field and fell attained a form like His own.

Verse 9#

lalita-gati-vilāsa-valgu-hāsa-

ललितगतिविलासवल्गुहास- प्रणयनिरीक्षणकल्पितोरुमानाः कृतमनुकृतवत्य उन्मदान्धाः प्रकृतिमगन्किल यस्य गोपवध्वः

lalita-gati-vilāsa-valgu-hāsa- praṇaya-nirīkṣaṇa-kalpitoru-mānāḥ | kṛtam-anu-kṛtavatya unmadāndhāḥ prakṛtim-agan-kila yasya gopa-vadhvaḥ ||

MeaningHe by whose graceful movements, charming smiles and loving glances the cowherd women of Vraja were filled with pride, who in their madness of love imitated His every gesture and thereby attained His very nature — may my mind dwell on Him.

Verse 10#

muni-gaṇa-nṛpa-varya-saṅkule'ntaḥ

मुनिगणनृपवर्यसङ्कुलेऽन्तः सदसि युधिष्ठिरराजसूय एषाम् अर्हणमुपपेद ईक्षणीयो मम दृशिगोचर एष आविरात्मा

muni-gaṇa-nṛpa-varya-saṅkule'ntaḥ sadasi yudhiṣṭhira-rāja-sūya eṣām | arhaṇam-upapeda īkṣaṇīyo mama dṛśi-gocara eṣa āvir-ātmā ||

MeaningIn the great assembly of King Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice, thronged with sages and the greatest of kings, He was chosen to receive the foremost worship of all — and now that same Lord, the Supreme Soul, has appeared before my very eyes.

Verse 11#

tam-imam-aham-ajaṃ śarīra-bhājāṃ

तमिममहमजं शरीरभाजां हृदि हृदि धिष्ठितमात्मकल्पितानाम् प्रतिदृशमिव नैकधार्कमेकं समधिगतोऽस्मि विधूतभेदमोहः

tam-imam-aham-ajaṃ śarīra-bhājāṃ hṛdi hṛdi dhiṣṭhitam-ātma-kalpitānām | prati-dṛśam-iva naikadhārkam-ekaṃ samadhigato'smi vidhūta-bheda-mohaḥ ||

MeaningHe is the unborn one, seated within the heart of every embodied being as their inmost Self, appearing as one yet seemingly many — like the single sun reflected in many eyes. Freed now of the delusion of all difference, I have attained Him.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

इति मतिः उपकल्पिता वितृष्णा
iti matir upakalpitā vitṛṣṇā
thus I fix my mind, free of all worldly craving
भगवति सात्वतपुङ्गवे
bhagavati sātvata-puṅgave
upon the Lord, the foremost of the Satvata (Yadava) clan
विभूम्नि
vibhūmni
the all-pervading, infinite one
त्रिभुवनकमनं
tri-bhuvana-kamanaṃ
the most beautiful and beloved of all the three worlds
तमालवर्णं
tamāla-varṇaṃ
dark in hue like the tamala tree
रविकरगौरवराम्बरं
ravi-kara-gaura-varāmbaraṃ
wearing fine yellow garments shining like the rays of the sun
अलककुलावृताननाब्जं
alaka-kulāvṛtānanābjaṃ
His lotus face framed by clusters of curling hair
विजयसखे रतिः अस्तु मे अनवद्या
vijaya-sakhe ratir astu me'navadyā
may my flawless love be fixed on Him, the friend of Arjuna (Vijaya)
युधि तुरगरजोविधूम्र
yudhi turaga-rajo-vidhūmra
on the battlefield, greyed by the dust raised by the horses' hooves
श्रमवारि अलङ्कृतास्ये
śrama-vāry-alaṅkṛtāsye
His face adorned with beads of perspiration from the exertion
मम निशितशरैः विभिद्यमानत्वचि
mama niśita-śarair vibhidyamāna-tvaci
His skin pierced by my sharp arrows
कृष्णे आत्मा
kṛṣṇa ātmā
may my very soul rest in Krishna
सपदि सखिवचः निशम्य
sapadi sakhi-vaco niśamya
at once hearing the words of His friend (Arjuna)
रथं निवेश्य
rathaṃ niveśya
placing the chariot between the two armies
स्वनिगमम् अपहाय
sva-nigamam apahāya
abandoning His own vow (not to take up arms)
मत्प्रतिज्ञाम् ऋतम् अधिकर्तुम्
mat-pratijñām ṛtam adhi-kartum
in order to make my vow come true
धृतरथचरणः अभ्ययात्
dhṛta-ratha-caraṇo'bhyayāt
He rushed forward seizing a chariot wheel
हरिः इव हन्तुम् इभं
harir iva hantum ibhaṃ
like a lion charging to kill an elephant
सः भवतु मे भगवान् गतिः मुकुन्दः
sa bhavatu me bhagavān gatir mukundaḥ
may that Lord Mukunda, the giver of liberation, be my refuge
गोपवध्वः प्रकृतिम् अगन्
gopa-vadhvaḥ prakṛtim agan
the cowherd women (gopis) attained His very nature
विधूतभेदमोहः
vidhūta-bheda-mohaḥ
freed of the delusion of all difference and duality
तम् इमम् अहम् अजं समधिगतः अस्मि
tam imam aham ajaṃ samadhigato'smi
I have now fully attained Him, the unborn one

Origin & History

Source: Srimad Bhagavata Purana, First Canto, Chapter 9

Author: Veda Vyasa (the prayer spoken by Bhishma; narrated by Suta to the sages)

Period: Puranic

After the great war of Kurukshetra, Bhishma Pitamaha — the grand patriarch of the Kuru dynasty, who had the boon of choosing the time of his own death — lay upon a bed of arrows awaiting the auspicious northern course of the sun (Uttarayana). Krishna came to him with the Pandavas, and Bhishma instructed Yudhishthira at length on dharma. Then, as his final hour approached, Bhishma turned away from all else and fixed his mind and eyes wholly upon Lord Krishna. In these verses he expresses his love for the Lord's dark, beautiful form, recalls Krishna's deeds upon the battlefield — including the moment Krishna abandoned His own vow and charged at Bhishma with a chariot wheel to protect Arjuna — and, freed of every trace of duality, surrenders his soul into the Supreme and gives up his body in full consciousness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bhishma Stuti?
The Bhishma Stuti is the prayer offered by Bhishma Pitamaha to Lord Krishna as he lay dying on his bed of arrows after the Kurukshetra war. It is recorded in the Ninth Chapter of the First Canto of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana, and is one of the most celebrated devotional hymns spoken at the moment of death.
Why did Bhishma pray to Krishna, who was on the opposing side?
Though Bhishma fought for the Kauravas out of duty, his heart was always devoted to Krishna as the Supreme Lord. On his deathbed he chose Krishna as his sole refuge, recalling with love even the moment when Krishna, to honour Bhishma's own vow, took up a chariot wheel and charged at him in battle. For Bhishma, that fierce charge was the Lord's supreme grace.
What is the significance of Bhishma's vow and Krishna breaking His own promise?
Bhishma had vowed to make Krishna take up arms in the war, while Krishna had vowed only to drive Arjuna's chariot and not to fight. When Bhishma rained arrows upon Arjuna, Krishna leapt down, seized a chariot wheel, and rushed at Bhishma to defend His devotee. By breaking His own vow to honour His devotee's, Krishna showed that He values His devotees' word above His own — Bhishma recalls this with overflowing love.
What spiritual lesson does the Bhishma Stuti teach?
It teaches the supreme value of fixing the mind entirely on the Lord at the time of death, free of craving and free of the illusion of duality. Bhishma sees the one Lord present in every heart like the single sun reflected in countless eyes, and by this vision merges into Him. It is the ideal example of conscious, loving departure from the body.

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