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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Pearls of wisdom in the Mahabharata

 

CHENNAI, JUNE 21. To strictly abide by Truth is the duty of every

human being because it is the highest refuge and is even

considered as the greatest penance. Likewise, righteousness

should be his watchword and if he upholds it under all

circumstances, he will be highly successful and rewarded in his

endeavour. Man's another important commitment should be to

observe self-restraint as it will lead him to the highest glory.

Several valuable guidelines are contained in the Mahabharata

tendered by a great seasoned, veteran administrator and

indisputable leader, when he was asked by an equally scholarly

and virtuous person regarding the responsibilities of a ruler in

his personal and official capacity. The dissertation of the

former, Bhishma, advising the latter, Yudhishtra, reveal pearls

of wisdom to be of use for all.

 

One among them points out how man is born alone and quits the

world in the same manner carrying with him nothing. No one will

be interested in the body that has been left. But

``Righteousness'' alone follows him as the sole companion. The

funeral rites of the departed heroes over, Krishna took

Yudhishtra whose heart was full of remorse to the grandsire,

Bhishma, awaiting his death. At the request of the Lord, the

latter explained the nuances of Dharma. The weak, aged

warriorafter worshipping Krishna was able to unravel the most

intricate knots of the mysteries of the universe, clearing all

doubts about the role of a king and his true conduct.

 

Some of the salient features of Bhishma's answers to Yudhishtra,

explained by Srimathi Prema Pandurang in her discourse, were as

follows: The duty of a Kshatriya is to fight; an administrator

should always be truthful if he is to inspire confidence in the

minds of citizens; justice should be his second nature; a king's

conduct should be above reproach; he has to take guidance from

scholars and men of wisdom before assuming office as they have

the inner vision to judge what is in his mind and what is in

store for him; honest men who are absolutely trustworthy should

be appointed to administer justice; worship of mother, father and

preceptor is absolutely necessary; virtue should be acquired for

the purification of the soul, wealth earned to spend without

desire for the fruits, intelligence which helps one to plan the

future; the wise will restrain their senses and hence can rise

above the grasping hands of desire, wrath and attachment. To a

final question as to who is the one object which is our sole

refuge, Bhishma replied that Krishna is the Lord of the universe.

 

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