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A devotee's prayer

CHENNAI : Scholars who expound the Puranas often state that one should emulate Lord Rama and follow the teachings of Lord Krishna. But, if one analyses Krishna's actions from the spiritual perspective, it will become apparent that He was a man of wisdom (Sthithaprajna) and bliss personified. His deeds were divine and hence it is not possible for man to fathom the rationale of His actions.

In his discourse, Nochur Sri Venkataraman said Bhishma knew that though the Lord had asked him to expound Dharma to Yudhishthira, this was only a pretext to grace him in person during his last moments. This was to enable Bhishma, who was a great devotee, to concentrate his mind on Him when he wanted to give up his life. That there was no Dharma greater than the Lord was the essence of Bhishma's exposition and it was on this occasion that he chanted the inimitable hymn Vishnu Sahasranama stringing together a thousand from the countless divine names.

Bhishma pointed out, "Sri Krishna is God Himself. He is no other than the Prime Person, Lord Narayana. No one else than Lord Siva, Narada and Lord Kapila know the most hidden glory of Sri Krishna, whom you think to be your cousin, beloved friend, and the greatest well-wisher and whom out of affection you made your counsellor, envoy and charioteer... Look at His compassion for those who are exclusively devoted to Him, in that Sri Krishna has appeared in person before me at this hour when I am about to give up the ghost."

He further prayed that the Lord who appears in His divine form only in meditation should stay on there with him till he shuffled off his body. What a privilege indeed it was that he who had the boon to die when he wished could behold Lord Krishna with the knowledge of His divine nature and merge his thoughts in Him. And what was His form Bhishma wanted to behold and remember? During the war Krishna had broken His vow not to take up arms to fulfil His devotee's (Bhishma's) promise of making Him to do so. Remembering His compassion Bhishma prayed that his mind, body and soul should rest in Sri Krishna whose face was hemmed all round by flowing hair soiled with the dust raised by the horses' hoofs on the battlefield and bedecked with drops of perspiration.

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