Text 45] Bhisma’s Passing Away 503
The Vaikuntha planets are all self-illuminating like the sun, and the rays of
the Vaikuntha planets are called the brahmajyoti. The brahmajyoti is
spread unlimitedly, and the material world is but a covered portion of an
insignificant part of the same brahmajyoti. This covering is temporary, and
therefore it is a sort of illusion.

Bhismadeva, as a pure devotee of the Lord, entered the spiritual realm
in one of the Vaikuntha planets where the Lord in His eternal form of
Partha-sarathi predominates over the unconditioned living beings who are
constantly engaged in the service of the Lord. The love and affection
which bind the Lord and devotee are exhibited in the case of Bhismadeva.
Bhismadeva never forgot the Lord in His transcendental feature as the
Partha-sarathi, and the Lord was present personally before Bhigmadeva
while he was passing to the transcendental world. That is the highest per-
fection of life.

TEXT 45
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CMS OME CCE CIC ECHL It
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VAS: AAT Wat VGA: FIT: val
tatra dundubhayo nedur
deva-manava-vaditah
Sasamsuh sadhavo rajiiam
khat petuh puspa-vrstayah

tatra—thereafter; dundubhayah—drums; neduh—were sounded; deva—
the demigods from other planets; manava—men from all countries;
vaditah—beaten by; sasarhsuh—praised; sadhavah— honest; rajnam—by the
royal order; khat—from the sky; petuh—began to fall; puspa-vrstayah—
showers of flowers.

TRANSLATION
Thereafter, both men and demigods sounded drums in honor, and the
honest royal order commenced demonstrations of honor and respect.
And from the sky fell showers of flowers.
PURPORT

Bhismadeva was respected both by the human beings and the demigods.
The human beings live on earth and similar other planets in the Bhar and
Bhuvar group of planets, but the demigods live in the Svar or heavenly
