Text 30] Bhisma’s Passing Away 477

TRANSLATION

While Bhismadeva was describing occupational duties, the sun’s course
ran into the northern hemisphere. This period is desired by mystics who
die at their will.

PURPORT

The perfect yogis or mystics can leave the material body at their own
sweet will at a suitable time and go to a suitable planet desired by them.
In the Bhagavad-gita (Bg. 8.14) it is said that self-realized souls who have
exactly identified themselves with the interest of the Supreme Lord can
generally leave the material body during the time of the fire-god’s efful-
gence and when the sun is in the northern horizon, and thus achieve the
transcendental sky. In the Vedas these times are considered auspicious for
quitting the body, and they are taken advantage of by the expert mystics
who have perfected the system. Perfection of yoga means attainment of
such supermental states as to be able to leave the material body as desired.
They can alse reach any planet within no time without a material vehicle.
The yogis can reach the highest planetary system within a very short time,
and this is impossible for the materialist. Even attempting to reach the
highest planet will take millions of years at a speed of millions of miles per
hour. This is a different science, and Bhismadeva knew well how to utilize
it. He was just waiting for the suitable moment to quit his material body,
and the golden opportunity arrived when he was instructing his noble
grandsons, the Pandavas. He thus prepared himself to quit his body before
the exalted Lord Sri Krsna, the pious Pandavas and the great sages headed
by Bhagavan Vyasa, etc., all great souls.

TEXT 30
Aunag mt area
my wari we
qufedsitiereraaaq Rell
tadopasamhrtya girah sahasranir
vimukta-saigar mana adi-puruse

krsne lasat-pita-pate catur-bhuje
purah sthite’milita drg vyadharayat
