Text 38]
Bhīṣma's Passing Away
491
Battle of Kurukṣetra that He would remain without weapons and would not use His strength for either of the parties. But to protect Arjuna He got down from the chariot, took up the wheel of the chariot and hurriedly rushed at Bhīṣmadeva in an angry mood, like a lion goes to kill an elephant. He dropped His covering cloth on the way, and out of great anger He did not know that He dropped it. Bhīṣmadeva at once gave up his weapons and stood to be killed by Kṛṣṇa, his beloved Lord. The fighting of the day was thus ended at that very moment, and Arjuna was saved. Of course there was no possibility of Arjuna's death because the Lord Himself was on the chariot, but because Bhīṣmadeva wanted to see Lord Kṛṣṇa take up some weapon to save His friend, the Lord created this situation, making Arjuna's death imminent. He stood before Bhīṣmadeva to show him that his promise was fulfilled and that He had taken up the wheel.
TEXT 38
शितविशिखहतो विशीर्णदंशः 
    क्षतजपरिष्ठुत आततायिनो मे । 
    प्रसभमभिससार मद्वधार्थं 
    स भवतु मे भगवान् गतिर्प्रुक्तुन्दः॥३८॥
śita-viśikha-hato viśīṛṇa-daṁśaḥ 
    kṣataja-paripluta ātatāyino me 
    prasabham abhisasāra mad-vadhārthaṁ 
    sa bhavatu me bhagavān gatir mukundaḥ
śita—sharp; viśikha—arrows; hataḥ—wounded by; viśīṛṇa-daṁśaḥ—scattered shield; kṣataja—by wounds; pariplutaḥ—smeared with blood; ātatāyinaḥ—the great aggressor; me—my; prasabham—in an angry mood; abhisasāra—began to move on; mat-vadha-artham—for the purpose of killing me; saḥ—He; bhavatu—let Him become; me—my; bhagavān—the Personality of Godhead; gatiḥ—destination; mukundaḥ—one who awards salvation.
TRANSLATION
May He, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who awards salvation, be my ultimate destination. On the battlefield He charged me, as if angry because of the wounds dealt by my sharp arrows. His shield was scattered, and His body was smeared with blood due to the wounds.