The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa - Khamkoo

Asita and Vasishtha and the high-souled Kausika, by Harita and Lomasa and
Atri‟s son of great intelligence, by Vrihaspati and Sukra and the great sage
Chyavana, by Sanatkumara and Kapila and Valmiki and Tumvuru and Kuru, by
Maudgalya and Rama of Bhrigu‟s race, and the great sage Trinavindu, 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 great sage Markandeya, by Bhaskari and Purana and
Krishna and Suta,--that foremost of virtuous persons, surrounded by these and
many other highly-blessed sages of great souls and possessed of faith and selfrestraint
and tranquillity of mind, the Kuru hero looked like the Moon in the midst
of the planets and the stars. Stretched on his bed of arrows, that tiger among
men, Bhishma, with pure heart and joined palms, thought of Krishna in mind,
word, and act. With a cheerful and strong voice he hymned the praise of the
slayer of Madhu, that master of yoga, with the lotus in his navel, that lord of the
universe, called Vishnu and Jishnu. With joined hands, that foremost of eloquent
men, that puissant one, viz., Bhishma of highly virtuous soul, thus praised
Vasudeva.
“Bhishma said, „O Krishna, O foremost of Beings, be thou pleased with these
words which I utter, in brief and in detail, from desire of hymning thy praises.
Thou art pure and purity‟s self. Thou transcendest all. Thou art what people say
to be THAT. Thou art the Supreme Lord. With my whole heart I seek thy refuge,
O universal Soul and Lord of all creatures![137] Thou art without beginning and
without end. Thou art the highest of the high and Brahma. Neither the gods nor
the Rishis know thee. The divine Creator, called Narayana or Hari, alone knows
thee. Through Narayana, the Rishis, the Siddhas, the great Nagas, the gods, and
the celestial Rishis know a little of thee. Thou art the highest of the high and
knowest no deterioration. The gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas,
the Pannagas, do not know who thou art and whence art thou. All the worlds and
all created things live in thee, and enter thee (when the dissolution comes). Like
gems strung together in a thread, all things that have attributes reside in thee, the
Supreme Lord.‟[138] Having the universe for thy work and the universe for thy
limbs, this universe consisting of mind and matter resides in thy eternal and allpervading
soul like a number of flowers strung together in a strong thread. Thou
art called Hari, of a thousand heads, a thousand feet, a thousand eyes, a
thousand arms, a thousand crowns, and a thousand faces of great splendour.
Thou art called Narayana, divinity, and the refuge of the universe. Thou art the
subtlest of the subtle, grossest of the gross, the heaviest of the heavy and the
highest of the high. In the Vaks, the Anuvaks, the Nishads, and Upanishads, thou
art regarded as the Supreme Being of irresistible force. In the Samans also,
whose declarations are always true, thou art regarded as Truth‟s self![139] Thou
art of quadruple soul. Thou art displayed in only the understanding (of all
creatures). Thou art the Lord of those that are bound to thee in faith. O God, thou
art adored (by the faithful) under four excellent, high, and secret names.[140]
Penances are ever present in thee. Performed (by other creatures for gratifying
Mahabharta of Krishna Dwipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kesarimohan Ganguli
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