In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of proceedings during Day Four of the Kurukshetra war, wherein Bhagadatta and Ghatodgaja engage in a fierce fight with each other, only to go away without a result. At the same time, we’ve seen Round Two of Duryodhana vs. Bheemasena, which also ended without a result, thanks to Jayatrada’s timely intervention. However, during this encounter, Bheemasena ended up killing fourteen Kaurava brothers in a single day, which induces fear within the Kaurava camp, perhaps for the first time ever! Meanwhile, towards the end of the day, Bheemasena, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva team up together to wreak havoc amidst the Kaurava army, which starts scampering here and there seeking refuge! At a stage when the entire Kaurava army seems to fall apart rather quickly, Bhishmachaarya decides to call off the war for the day! With this, both armies return back to their camps and this marks the end of Day Four at Kurukshetra!
Moving on thus, as the night settles in on Day Four, Duryodhana pays a visit to Bhishmachaarya’s tent and has a word with him. Duryodhana asks Bhishmachaarya thus, “Oh Pita Maha Bhishmachaarya! Tell me one thing clearly – Are we going to be on the winning or losing side?” As Duryodhana asks thus, Bhishmachaarya heaves a heavy breath and replies – “Oh Duryodhana! I’ve already told you the result of this war even before the commencement – We are definitely going to be on the losing side only! There can be no two ways about this! Please do not ask this question again and again! You asked me this question on Day One itself, and I had given you my answer. Now, why are you asking the same question?” As Bhishmachaarya replies with such reluctant answers, Duryodhana gets furious! He asks back thus, “Oh Bhishmachaarya! You’ve taken the role of the Senapati of our army! How can a Senapati be so unmotivated in his talk? How can the Senapati blatantly accept defeat like this? If you knew that you would be on the losing side, why did you opt to preside over as the Senapati of our army?” For this, Bhishmachaarya replies – “Oh Duryodhana! I took over as the Senapati only by knowing that we’re going to be on the losing side. It is not that I did not anticipate defeat early on before taking over! I know very well that I’m fighting for a losing cause!”
As Bhishmachaarya replies thus, Duryodhana’s anger increases further! He asks thus, “Oh Bhishmachaarya! Are they more powerful than you? How can you concede defeat like this? You’re extremely powerful and invincible and I know that you can single handedly win this war for us!” For this, Bhishmachaarya replies with a pained heart thus, “Oh Duryodhana! I’ve made several attempts to make you understand this – In a battle, it is not just the power of an individual which is important. What is more important is “Dharma”! The side where “Dharma” is present will win! We do not have “Dharma” by our side! If such is the case, how do you expect us to win? I’ve tried to make you this several times in the past as well, but I’ve failed miserably as the great grandfather of this entire clan! If you would have understood what is “Dharma” and how “Dharma” is important to be followed, such a disaster which we are facing today could have certainly been avoided. All that is happening today is just because of you, who failed to understand the fact that one cannot win over another person merely with the “Deha-Balam” (Physical strength). Of course, “Deha-Balam” is important, but it is just the “Saadhanam” and not the “Saadhyam”. In other words, “Deha-Balam” is not entirely the cause of one’s victory. What is more important here is whether we have “Dharma” on our side or not!”
As Bhishmachaarya gives a detailed reply to Duryodhana with a lot of pain and frustration, Duryodhana does not seem to understand anything of what Bhishmachaarya is explaining to him. He asks back in return thus, “Oh Bhishmachaarya! What makes you so scared by looking at the Paandavas?” As Duryodhana asks thus, Bhishmachaarya heaves a huge sigh of frustration! He replies back thus, “Oh Duryodhana! There are a few secrets that I know about the Paandavas, which unfortunately you do not know! You may ask me to reveal those to you now, just because I said that there are certain secrets! Oh Duryodhana! Please understand! It is not necessary that elders and Pandithas should reveal each and every thing to others. If they guide you through a direction to follow, you should follow it without asking cross questions! If you’re going to violate the words of elders, you need to be prepared to face disasters in your life!”
Now this is a very important message that Bhishmachaarya is trying to convey to Duryodhana, and in turn to all of us as well! The message is clear – If elders or “Mahatmas” or “Bhaktas” ask us to do certain things, it is better to blindly follow their instructions without asking them anything. Even if they scold us, we’ve to be ready to take it! Even if they beat us, we’ve to be ready to endure it! It is because “Mahatmas” know why they’re doing it to us – There will be some hidden good within the actions that they’re asking us to do, which we will not be able to figure out at that moment. Moreover, it is not a mandate that “Mahatmas” would reveal the reason behind each and every instruction that they give us. However, in the longer term, we ourselves would understand why we had to go through such a tough phase under a “Mahatma”! This is exactly what Bhishmachaarya is explaining here to Duryodhana – To listen to the words of elders without backlashing at them for everything! So for today, let us understand this point clearly and in the next episode, we shall have a detailed look into this point! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 