Bhisma Pitamaha and Draupadi - an episode !

[Guest guest]

Not too long ago , someone in this group (i think it was DR shyamji

if i am not mistaken) raised this question that was Bhisma

practicing 'dharma' when he did not raise his voice against the

Kauravas when they were disrobing Draupadi in the court ? Of

course , there is no logic or rtionality to any of these things -

but let me try to answer some relevant points here .

 

here is the circumstances surrounding that practice of so called

adharma

 

"Once after the battle of the Mahabharata, all were killed except

for Krishna and the Pandava's; on the other side Krpacarya,

Ashwatama, and Krtavarma were left. Practically all were killed,

all. nly one was blind. So the war was finished, all were killed,

and then Pandavas were weeping so much, lamenting that, "We have

killed all. Now there are only widows in India." Only widows were

there and all were crying. Yudisthira Maharaja and all Pandavas were

thinking that, "We are the main cause of all destruction. Why did we

do so? We will give up all this kingdom and we will be street

beggars." Krishna told them, "You should be ready, we are going to

visit Grandfather Bhisma." Still he was alive. For 6 months he

stopped his death because he was so powerful. A boon was given to

Grandfather Bhisma that he will leave his body at his own will.

Otherwise death was waiting. Death was waiting for six months.

 

Then Krishna took all the five Pandavas and Draupadi, and then they

went to Bhismapitama where he was lying on the bed of arrows. His

whole body was pierced with arrows. They went there - the Pandavas

and Draupadi did pranama to Pitamaha Bhisma, and they sat at his

feet. And when Krishna came there, Pitama Bhisma did pranama from

his eyes, because his hands and everything were pierced by arrows.

So by the eyes and he prayed Krishna to sit in front of him - very

near. So Krishna was sitting very near, like this, and Pandavas sat

near his feet. Krishna told, "O, Pitamaha Bhisma you are such a high

class of devotee, and you know all the Vaisnava tattva. So you

should try to pacify them. They are very worried for that they have

killed so many - all. So they are very worried."

 

Bhisma Pitamaha began to tell something and then when he began,

Draupadi was smiling. How smiling? [hiding behind veil] There was

veil here, and she was smiling. Not "Ho ho, ho.", but she was

smiling. Bhisma looked at her and questioned her, "My dear daughter

Draupadi, why you are laughing? I want to know." And Draupadi, in a

very humble way, said, "Oh Bhisma you are going to give knowledge,

but where were you when Duryodhana was trying to make me naked? You

are giving such high class of knowledge but where were you then?"

Bhisma very humbly told, "My dear daughter, at that time I was

taking my meals from Duryodhana, the demon, so in those meals the

mood of demon was there. So I was knowing all these things. But I

was so weak. So, at that time I could not check him. I could not

control. I thought that Duryodhana would be unhappy and that is why,

by weakness, I could not. But now it has been six months. My all

blood, which was made by his meals has totally gone. Not only blood,

the other bodily substances - everything - has gone. And now my

heart is cured, especially by the darsana of Krishna." Draupadi was

satisfied. Then Bhisma pitama said, "O Maharaja Yudisthira, Bhima,

Arjuna and all Pandavas; Hear carefully.

[Guest guest]

this story was taken from the following website

 

http://www.purebhakti.com/lectures/lecture20000120am.shtml

 

So, what is the message of this story ?

 

YES! Was Bhishma being 'adharmic' when he did not raise his voice

against the kauravas ?

 

not really ! as per laws of Dharma 'one must be true to one's salt '

and one cannot cut the hand that feeds you ! Therefore , Bhisma had

to be loyal to the Kauravas as he was serving them! Bhisma's real

love was for the TRUTH AND DHARMA THAT THE PANDAVAS REPRESENTED BUT

HE WAS HELPLESS A LONG AS bHSMA WAS SERVING THE DEMONUIC kAURAVAS!

 

once he was nearing his DEATH , Bhisma clearly knew that he need not

be anymore be loyal to the KAURAVAS - now, he was no longer woorried

about keeping up his promises he made - his only desire at the time

of death was to attain moksha at the lotus feet of lord krishna !

 

maybe professor vkji and others can explain this better -

'situational' dharma versus general dharma!

 

regards

 

 

advaitin, "dhyanasaraswati"

<dhyanasaraswati wrote:

>

> Not too long ago , someone in this group (i think it was DR

shyamji

> if i am not mistaken) raised this question that was Bhisma

> practicing 'dharma' when he did not raise his voice against the

> Kauravas when they were disrobing Draupadi in the court ? Of

> course , there is no logic or rtionality to any of these things -

> but let me try to answer some relevant points here .

>

> here is the circumstances surrounding that practice of so called

> adharma

>

> "