Perfect governance emerges from enlightened knowledge received from great authorities and unwavering surrender to Krishna.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.3 — June 18, 1973, Māyāpur 730618SB-MAYAPUR [42:35 Minutes] SB-01.10.03_730618SB-MAYAPUR Pradyumna: [leads chanting of verse] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] niśamya bhīṣmoktam athācyutoktaṁ pravṛtta-vijñāna-vidhūta-vibhramaḥ śaśāsa gām indra ivājitāśrayaḥ paridhyupāntām anujānuvartitaḥ [SB 1.10.3] [break] niśamya—after listening; bhīṣma-uktam—what was spoken by Bhīṣmadeva; atha—as also; acyuta-uktam—what was spoken by the infallible Lord Kṛṣṇa; pravṛtta—being engaged in; vijñāna—perfect knowledge; vidhūta—completely washed; vibhramaḥ—all misgivings; śaśāsa—ruled over; gām—the earth; indra—the king of the heavenly planet; iva—like; ajita-āśrayaḥ—protected by the invincible Lord; paridhi-upāntām—including the seas; anuja—the younger brothers; anuvartitaḥ—being followed by them. [02:59] Translation: "Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, after being enlightened by what was spoken by Bhīṣmadeva and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the infallible, engaged himself in matters of perfect knowledge because all his misgivings were eradicated. Thus he ruled over the earth and seas and was followed by his younger brothers." Prabhupāda: So here is a responsible monarch, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. It is not that some rascal gets some votes and some way or other he sits on the president's chair and secretly doing all nonsense.
Just like your President Nixon is now detected, so many things. The monarchy was not like that. Here it is clearly said, pravṛtta-vijñāna-vidhūta-vibhramaḥ. Vijñāna-vidhūta.
Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was thinking that "For me, so many people have been killed. So I have become very, very much sinful. I am not fit for sitting on the throne, such responsible throne." But his misgivings were dissipated by the words of Bhīṣma. Bhīṣma, he is authority. Next to Kṛṣṇa, Bhīṣma is one of the authorities.
There are twelve authorities: svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ kapilaḥ kumāro manuḥ, prahlādo bhīṣmo janakaḥ [SB 6.3.20]. They are the authorities of piety, religion. There are... Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. We cannot decide what is actually piety, religion. But if we follow mahājana, great authorities, then certainly we are unmistaken. So Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, now all the Pāṇḍavas along with Kṛṣṇa, they have come to Bhīṣmadeva for taking his last instruction. He was lying on the bed of arrows for death.
His father's benediction was that Bhīṣmadeva would not die unless he desires to die. He was a very avowed brahmacārī, truthful. And Bhīṣmadeva recommended in the rājasūya-yajña that "Kṛṣṇa is greater brahmacārī than me. Although I am brahmacārī, but Kṛṣṇa is greater brahmacārī." Why?
"I am brahmacārī. I have avoided association of woman. But Kṛṣṇa, He was young boy and He had so many young girls friend, still, He was not sexually agitated. He is the greatest brahmacārī." That is the recommendation given by Bhīṣmadeva.
When Śiśupāla was criticizing Kṛṣṇa, Bhīṣmadeva supported Kṛṣṇa, that "What kind of brahmacārī I am? He is greater brahmacārī than me. I think I could not save myself, keeping myself amongst the young girls. No.