In the previous episode, we had witnessed Yudishtra walking towards Bhishmachaarya, bowing down to him and seeking permission for commencing the war. As Yudishtra starts to walk, Bhagawan Krishna understands his real intention – Yudishtra is walking towards Bhishmachaarya not to surrender, but to seek approval to begin the proceedings. Realizing this, Bhagawan Krishna and subsequently Aruna, followed by Bheemasena, Nakula and Sahadeva walk along with Yudishtra towards Bhishmachaarya. As Yudishtra bows down in respect, he wants Bhishmachaarya to make the final call on whether this war should proceed or not. If Bhishmachaarya says “yes”, the war can commence immediately and if he says “no”, Yudishtra is still prepared to withdraw everything and go back to Indraprastha. So the onus is now on Bhishmachaarya and what does he say? Let us continue witnessing the interesting set of events unfolding one after the other!
As Yudishtra says thus, Bhishmachaarya looks at everyone around him. He looks at Duryodhana, Sahuni, Guru Dhronachaarya, etc. who are standing around him. The soft signal from everyone is to proceed with the war and there’s no further option to prevent it from here on! Now, as there is a stilled silence all around, Bhishmachaarya replies back to Yudishtra thus,
“Yaddevam naabi gaccheetaaha yudhimaam prithiveem pathe!
Sapeayntvaam mahaaraaja paraabhaavaaya bhaarata!!”
Bhishmachaarya replies thus, “Oh Yudishtra! You’ve asked a very important question, and through this question itself, you’ve won this war! Of course we’ve not even fired a single arrow upon each other on either sides, but this very question that you’ve asked, has put to rest the question of who is winning and who is losing this war! You might still wonder how I’m saying this! When Bhagawan Krishna started talking in between the battlefield with Arjuna, and when He spoke to all of us on that day when He came as a messenger, it was completely decided that this war had to somehow happen. From that day onwards, it was only a matter of time when this war would begin! Oh Yudishtra! If everything is pre-decided by Bhagawan Krishna who is standing with you, there is nothing for us to win from here on! You’re already the winner and none other than Bhagawan Krishna has decided that long back! If He takes the decision, who on this earth can change it? Hence, this war according to me is a mere formality and nothing else! I’m only going to fight this war like a dead body moving around with hands and legs. I know that “Dharma” will always win and we are not on that fortunate side of “Dharma”!”
Bhishmachaarya continues further thus, “Oh Yudishtra! If you would have not come to me now and seeked permission to begin the war, I would have definitely cursed you very badly! But now that you’ve come to me and seeked my “Anugraha” along with my approval to begin the war, I’m extremely happy and also I feel that I’m indebted to grant you something very precious! Oh Yudishtra! Please ask me anything except for the fact that I should come to your side and fight this war. This alone cannot happen, but you can ask me anything else as per your wish!”
As Bhishmachaarya gives an emotional reply thus, Bhagawan Krishna is having a big smile on His handsome face as He looks at Yudishtra. Now it is Yudishtra’s turn to talk. He says thus, “Oh grandfather Bhishmachaarya! I know that your death is in your hands only, unlike all of us! You are going to die only when you want to. However in this scenario, “Dharma” should win, and for that, you’ve to die! So tell me the secret methodology that I should adopt, so that I can kill you in this war!” Saying thus, Yudishtra is straightforward in his question without any blemish! We might wonder how can Yudishtra ask such a question so directly and with so much honesty! This is “Yudishtra” for all of us! He will not feel afraid to talk anything that “Dharma” warrants him to talk, even if it was with the enemy! As all of us know, this war is between “Dharma” and “Adharma” and somehow, “Dharma” has to win. There is no other option here! Hence, Yudishtra asks this question, even though this might sound pretty hard-hitting for all of us!
So what is Bhishmachaarya’s answer going to be for this direct question of Yudishtra? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 