In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhishmachaarya’s continuation of his accord on “Raaja Dharma” to Yudishtra. Here, we’re witnessing a very important point made by Bhishmachaarya with regards to effective leadership – If we’ve to trust someone, it should not happen so easily. At the same time, if we’re trying to help someone, we should know if the person whom we are helping, is really eligible to receive our help or not. Moreover, even if the person is eligible, we should be very careful not to cross the boundary. We should not go beyond a point and help anyone. Else, this can backfire at us very badly. Bhishmachaarya narrated a beautiful story to highlight this point. The story was between a sage and a dog, wherein the dog was becoming more and more greedy with more and more help coming from the sage. Finally when the dog got into the form of a “Sharabam” bird, it thinks of finishing the sage who helped it all these days! Of course, the sage was extremely powerful with his penance, and taught the dog a befitting lesson by bringing it back to its original small and helpless form! We will not be able to give such befitting replies to people during such critical junctures, can we? Hence, we’ve to be very careful with the boundary to which we can offer help to anyone. Of course, I’m not saying that we should refrain from helping people. Definitely not! However, the point here is that there’s a fine balance in how much help we can extend to people.
Moving on further, after hearing this story, Yudishtra is perplexed! He is now slowly starting to open up to Bhishmachaarya more and more. Especially after Bhishmachaarya touched a very sensitive point earlier that Yudishtra is trying to run away from the kingdom, Yudishtra is asking Bhishmachaarya a very important question here. Yudishtra asks thus, “Oh great Bhishamchaarya! I have an important doubt here. You had earlier said that I should not run away from performing my duty, and in fact, poked me lightly by indirectly saying that I’m trying to do that. Let me tell you one thing – I’m steadfast in my duty, as you know me from childhood. When Duryodhana came to fight against me at Kurukshetra, I was ready to do my duty of fighting the war against him. However, I had a small ray of hope – Duryodhana as a person, might have something called “conscience” that could prick him at some point in time. Also, Bhagawan Krishna was on my side and was ready to lead the entire army towards him. Moreover, as the war began, Duryodhana started tasting defeat every passing day. Still nothing changed in him and he continued to be what he was. After analyzing all the mistakes that he had committed till then, and upon seeing Bhagawan Krishna on our side, I really thought that Duryodhana would call a truce, either during the commencement of the war, or during the course of the war. But nothing of that sort happened, and we were forced to kill Duryodhana. Why did this happen?”
Yudishtra is asking a very important question here – It should be remembered that before the war commenced, Yudishtra and his brothers walked towards all the senior members of the Kaurava camp, including Bhishmachaarya himself, Guru Dhronachaarya, Sage Kripachaarya, etc. to seek their divine “Anugraha”. Even at that point in time, Yudishtra was slightly having a ray of hope that upon seeing Yudishtra and the Pandava brothers bowing down to all of them, Duryodhana’s heart would melt. But nothing of that sort happened! Duryodhana became more and more enraged and was ready for the war to begin. Why did this happen? How was Duryodhana stone-hearted to this extent?
As Yudishtra asks thus, Bhishmachaarya laughs a bit. He knows what Yudishtra is meaning here. Bhishmachaarya replies thus, “Oh Yudishtra! How on earth are you asking such a question? You are an epitome of “Dharma” in all aspects, and Duryodhana was exactly pole-opposite to what you are! How did you even expect him to come to you and broker peace? Are you mad? Oh Yudishtra! You should remember this – Ever since your childhood days, Duryodhana has only tried to kill you and your brothers in every possible manner. He tried to push all of you into the River Ganga when you were all asleep. He tried to burn all of you in the “Laaksha-Griham” (Wax palace) while all of you were asleep. He insulted you and your wife Draupati publicly in front of everyone in the courtroom during the gambling game. Even during your forest life, he did not allow you to live peacefully! Given Duryodhana’s dismal track record, how did you even expect him to fall into the path of “Dharma” and come to you to broker peace?”
As Bhishmachaarya jokingly asks thus, Yudishtra doesn’t know what to reply! He just says thus, “Oh Bhishmachaarya! I also know all these! However, I just had the hope and confidence in him that some day he would change! But that never happened till the eighteenth day of the war!” As Yudishtra says thus, Bhishmachaarya ridicules his level of hope and confidence by saying that one shouldn’t get carried away by too much of these two qualities! There should be a limit! Again, Bhishmachaarya is going to narrate a beautiful story to highlight this important point, but for today, let us understand this point very clearly. We shall wait till the next episode for the story! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 