In the previous episode, we had witnessed the commencement of the next segment of the main “Raaja-Dharma” discussion between Bhishmachaarya and Yudishtra – The “Aapad Dharma”. Prior to this, we’ve concluded the discussion on the thirty-six different qualities of a leader and now in this “Adhyaayam”, we’re commencing our discussion with Yudishtra’s important question – Who is a real friend and who is a real enemy? How do we identify? For this, Bhishmachaarya explains straight away thus, “Oh Yudishtra! There can never be a true friend or a true enemy constantly for life. Situations make a person a friend or an enemy. A person who is a friend today, might become an enemy tomorrow. Similarly the vice-versa also holds true – Our bitter enemy today could also become our good friend with time.
This is a very important point that Bhishmachaarya is explaining here. We can see this happening even today – The obvious place where we can find this is politics, wherein political parties which are in alliance with each other might fall out with time, and the fiercest political enemies can become best friends too! Now moving on further, Yudishtra asks a counter question here – “Oh Bhishmachaarya! You’re saying that people can be extremely opportunistic in nature and it is difficult to ascertain who can be a real friend or an enemy. However, a king cannot accomplish anything without alliances and friendships, isn’t it? So how do we narrow down on a friend? How do we treat a friend? How much do we encourage friends? To what extent do we allow a friend into our house?” This is an extremely important question which is directly applicable for all of us. First of all, even in today’s context, we cannot be a person who can be without any form of friends or alliances in whatever we do. This itself warrants a separate discussion. As we know, man is a social animal, and we cannot survive on our own at all times. We cannot be Bhagawan Rama at any cost. We might remember this one episode from our previous Ramayana project – Bhagawan Rama destroyed fourteen thousand “Raakshasas” single-handedly. Of course, for Bhagawan Rama’s stature, this might be possible, but for normal people like us, this is a far-fetched thing. We might remember this segment of the Ramayana – Soorpanaka came to see Bhagawan Rama and as she saw Him, she fell in love with him. As she proposed her love to Bhagawan Rama, He redirected her towards Lakshmana, who was without his wife at that time. As Soorpanaka approached Lakshmana, he once again directed her towards Bhagawan Rama. Thus, Soorpanaka became a joker, being pushed from one person to the other, and angered by this, she decides to pounce on Mother Sita and kill her first. Perhaps if Mother Sita is killed, Soorpanaka thought that Bhagawan Rama would come to her. However, Bhagawan Rama signalled to Lakshmana and accordingly, Lakshmana chopped off Soorpanaka’s nose and ears! With her nose and ears hanging ghastly, she ran to obtain the favour of the fourteen thousand “Raakshasas” at Janasthaanam. Annoyed over Soorpanaka’s condition, the fourteen thousand “Raakshasas” attacked Bhagawan Rama. Without even Lakshmana’s help, Bhagawan Rama single-handedly neutralized all the fourteen-thousand “Raakshasas”.
Hence, for a person like Bhagawan Rama, doing everything single-handedly might be possible, but Yudishtra is asking here that is it possible for the others! For this, Bhishmachaarya is going to give a very important reply to Yudishtra, which we will wait and witness in the next episode! So for today, let us understand up to this point, and we shall wait for Bhishmachaarya’s reply till tomorrow! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 