krishnastutibhishmabhagavata-purana

Bhishma Stuti

भीष्म स्तुति in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning after a bath; on Ekadashi, Janmashtami and during paath for departed souls·📜 Srimad Bhagavata Purana, First Canto, Chapter 9

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Bhishma Stuti is the dying prayer of Bhishma Pitamaha, the grand patriarch of the Mahabharata, recorded in the First Canto (chapter 9) of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana. Lying on his bed of arrows and choosing the moment of his own death, Bhishma fixes his entire mind on Lord Krishna and pours out his love in a series of luminous verses, recalling Krishna's beauty on the battlefield of Kurukshetra and the day the Lord broke His own vow to charge at him. Free at last of all duality, Bhishma merges his soul in the Supreme and gives up his body. It is treasured as a supreme model of devotion at the hour of death and of seeing the Lord in His every aspect.

Origin & Story

Srimad Bhagavata Purana, First Canto, Chapter 9 · Veda Vyasa (the prayer spoken by Bhishma; narrated by Suta to the sages) · 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.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that Bhishma, by the power of his unbroken devotion, beheld the four-armed Lord Krishna standing before him and merged his life-breath into Him while gazing upon that form, attaining liberation at the very moment of death. Devotees hold that to remember the Lord with such love at the hour of passing, as Bhishma did, secures the soul's union with God.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

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

Meaning:Thus, 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 ravi-kara-gaura-varāmbaraṃ dadhāne | vapur-alaka-kulāvṛtānanābjaṃ vijaya-sakhe ratir-astu me'navadyā ||

Meaning:May 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- kaca-lulita-śrama-vāry-alaṅkṛtāsye | mama niśita-śarair-vibhidyamāna- tvaci vilasat-kavace'stu kṛṣṇa ātmā ||

Meaning:Upon 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 nija-parayor-balayo rathaṃ niveśya | sthitavati para-sainikāyur-akṣṇā hṛtavati pārtha-sakhe ratir-mamāstu ||

Meaning:At 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 sva-jana-vadhād-vimukhasya doṣa-buddhyā | kumatim-aharad-ātma-vidyayā yaś- caraṇa-ratiḥ paramasya tasya me'stu ||

Meaning:When, 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- ṛtam-adhi-kartum-avapluto ratha-sthaḥ | dhṛta-ratha-caraṇo'bhyayāc-calad-gur- harir-iva hantum-ibhaṃ gatottarīyaḥ ||

Meaning:To 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 kṣataja-paripluta ātatāyino me | prasabham-abhisasāra mad-vadhārthaṃ sa bhavatu me bhagavān-gatir-mukundaḥ ||

Meaning:Struck 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 dhṛta-haya-raśmini tac-chriyekṣaṇīye | bhagavati ratir-astu me mumūrṣor- yam-iha nirīkṣya hatā gatāḥ sva-rūpam ||

Meaning:May 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- praṇaya-nirīkṣaṇa-kalpitoru-mānāḥ | kṛtam-anu-kṛtavatya unmadāndhāḥ prakṛtim-agan-kila yasya gopa-vadhvaḥ ||

Meaning:He 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 sadasi yudhiṣṭhira-rāja-sūya eṣām | arhaṇam-upapeda īkṣaṇīyo mama dṛśi-gocara eṣa āvir-ātmā ||

Meaning:In 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 hṛdi hṛdi dhiṣṭhitam-ātma-kalpitānām | prati-dṛśam-iva naikadhārkam-ekaṃ samadhigato'smi vidhūta-bheda-mohaḥ ||

Meaning:He 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 Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

iti matir upakalpitā vitṛṣṇā🔊thus I fix my mind, free of all worldly craving

bhagavati sātvata-puṅgave🔊upon the Lord, the foremost of the Satvata (Yadava) clan

vibhūmni🔊the all-pervading, infinite one

tri-bhuvana-kamanaṃ🔊the most beautiful and beloved of all the three worlds

tamāla-varṇaṃ🔊dark in hue like the tamala tree

ravi-kara-gaura-varāmbaraṃ🔊wearing fine yellow garments shining like the rays of the sun

alaka-kulāvṛtānanābjaṃ🔊His lotus face framed by clusters of curling hair

vijaya-sakhe ratir astu me'navadyā🔊may my flawless love be fixed on Him, the friend of Arjuna (Vijaya)

yudhi turaga-rajo-vidhūmra🔊on the battlefield, greyed by the dust raised by the horses' hooves

śrama-vāry-alaṅkṛtāsye🔊His face adorned with beads of perspiration from the exertion

mama niśita-śarair vibhidyamāna-tvaci🔊His skin pierced by my sharp arrows

kṛṣṇa ātmā🔊may my very soul rest in Krishna

sapadi sakhi-vaco niśamya🔊at once hearing the words of His friend (Arjuna)

rathaṃ niveśya🔊placing the chariot between the two armies

sva-nigamam apahāya🔊abandoning His own vow (not to take up arms)

mat-pratijñām ṛtam adhi-kartum🔊in order to make my vow come true

dhṛta-ratha-caraṇo'bhyayāt🔊He rushed forward seizing a chariot wheel

harir iva hantum ibhaṃ🔊like a lion charging to kill an elephant

sa bhavatu me bhagavān gatir mukundaḥ🔊may that Lord Mukunda, the giver of liberation, be my refuge

gopa-vadhvaḥ prakṛtim agan🔊the cowherd women (gopis) attained His very nature

vidhūta-bheda-mohaḥ🔊freed of the delusion of all difference and duality

tam imam aham ajaṃ samadhigato'smi🔊I have now fully attained Him, the unborn one

Benefits of Chanting भीष्म स्तुति

✦

Regarded as the supreme model of fixing the mind on the Lord at the hour of death

✦

Inspires unwavering, one-pointed devotion (ananya bhakti) to Lord Krishna

✦

Dissolves the delusion of duality and reveals the Lord seated in every heart

✦

Recited for a peaceful, conscious and fearless passing, as Bhishma attained

✦

Frees the heart from worldly craving (vitrishna) and attachment

✦

Held to bestow liberation (moksha) through loving remembrance of the Lord's form

✦

Cultivates the vision that sees God's beauty even amid hardship and conflict

How to Chant भीष्म स्तुति

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning after a bath; on Ekadashi, Janmashtami and during paath for departed souls

Bathe and sit calmly facing east before an image of Lord Krishna. Recite the Bhishma Stuti slowly, picturing Krishna as Bhishma beheld Him on the field of Kurukshetra. Reflect on each verse as a meditation on fixing the mind wholly on the Lord. It is read daily by devotees as a hymn of surrender, and is traditionally recited for the peace and liberation of the dying and the departed, since Bhishma attained the Lord by this very prayer at the moment of death.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete भीष्म स्तुति written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

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.

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.

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.

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.