tadopasaṁhṛtya giraḥ sahasraṇīr vimukta-saṅgaṁ mana ādi-pūruṣe kṛṣṇe lasat-pīta-paṭe catur-bhuje puraḥ sthite 'mīlita-dṛg vyadhārayat
Synonyms
tadā—at that time; upasaṁhṛtya—withdrawing; giraḥ—speeches; sahasraṇīḥ—Bhismadeva, (expert by thousands of science and art) Vimuktasamgam—completely freed from everything else; vimukta-saṅgam—mind; manaḥ—unto the Original Personality of Godhead; ādi pūruṣe—unto Krishna; kṛṣṇe—decorated with yellow garments; lasat-pīta-paṭe—unto the Original Narayan with four hands; catur-bhuje—just before, sthite—standing by; puraḥ—widespread; sthite—vision; amīlita—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 every thing 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 begining 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 :—
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.