SB 1.9.30 (1964)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 30
Tada upasamhritya girah sahasrani Vimuktasangam mana adipuruse Krishne lasatpitapate chaturbhuje Purahsthite amilita drig byadharayat.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Tada—at that time, Upasritya—withdrawing, Girah—speeches, Sahasrani—Bhismadeva, (expert by thousands of science and art) Vimuktasamgam—completely freed from everything else, Mana—mind, Adipuruse—unto the Original Personality of Godhead, Krishne—unto Krishna, Lasatpitapate—decorated with yellow garments, Chaturbhnje—unto the Original Narayan with four hands, Purah—just before, sthite—standing by, Amilita—widespread, Drig—vision, Byadharayat—fixed up.
TRANSLATION
Thereupon the man who was speaking on different subjects with thousands of meaning or the man who fought in thousands of battlefields protecting thousands of men, stopped speaking and being completely free from all bondage withdrew his mind from everything else and fixed up his wide open eyes on the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna Who is fourhanded also now standing before him decorated with yellow dress with glittering shine.
PURPORT
In the momentous hour of leaving this material body the glorious example set by Bhismadeva is the important function of the human form of life. The subject matter which attracts the dying man becomes the beginning of his next life. If, therefore, one is absorbed in the thoughts of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, he is sure to go back to Godhead without any doubt. This is confirmed in the Bhagwat Geeta ((B.G. 8/5-15) it is said there as follows:-
"One who quits his material body by remembering Me, he attains transcendental nature after his death. In other words such good soul becomes as much liberated as the Lord is freed from all material conditions."
"Because anyone who may quit his material body thinking of something subjective at the time of death, attains to such stage of life after death."
"It was therefore, instructed to Arjuna that he should go on with the business of fighting which is his occupational duty but at the same time may remember the personality of Godhead Sri Krishna."
"By such constant remembrance by the devotee, he attains perfect devotional stage for controlling the mind not being engaged in any other subjective occupation besides the thoughts of the Lord."
"By such practice only the mind becomes trained up in the matter of being fixed up at the lotus feet of the Lord and he attains to the transcendental stage of not being attracted any more by the temporary material attraction."
"Subject matter of meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead is that He is sentient, eternal, controller, finer than the finest, master of all living beings, beyond the conception of material sense perception. The Supreme Being, enjoyer in medium size, and yet because He is self-effulgent, He is transcendental to everything materially conceived."
"At the time of death, one can fix up his attention between the eye brows by dint of previous practice of yoga (Bhakti yoga) and thus attain the highest perfection of life by going back to Godhead the Supreme Personality."
Shri Bhismadeva attained the perfection of quitting his body at his will and was fortunate enough to have Lord Krishna the object of His attention personally present at the time of death. He, therefore, fixed up his wide open eyes upon Him. He wanted to see Sri Krishna for a long time out of his spontaneous love for Him. Because he was a pure devotee he had very little to do with the detailed performance of Yogic principles. Because simple Bhaktiyoga is enough to bring about perfection. Therefore, the ardent desire of Bhishma deva was to see over the Person of Lord Krishna the most lovable object and by the Grace of the Lord Sri Bhismadeva had the full opportunity at the last stage of his breathing.