Guest guest Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 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 > > " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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