denying the guru's order to marry

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What follows is the narration from the 4th Chp of the Adi Parva of Mahabharata

about the refusal of Bhisma to the orders of his martial preceptor Parsurama.

 

Conclusion by HDG:

 

Both Bhishma and Parashurama are in the category of liberated

associates of the Lord. Parashurama is an shaktavesha avatara [an

empowered living entity], and Bhishma was a pure devotee of the Lord, one of

the twelve mahajanas. This pastime was arranged by the internal potency

of the Lord and therefore cannot be imitated. The four Kumaras were liberated

devotees, and they disobeyed the order of their father, Brahma, when he

requested them to get married and beget progeny. The conditioned soul

cannot imitate these pastimes and disobey the order of the spiritual

master. It is stated by Vishvanatha Chakravarty Thakur that by pleasing the

spiritual master one pleases God, and by displeasing the spiritual master

one displeases God.

 

 

<T>The next day Parashurama arrived at the ashrama and Amba related to him the

events of her abduction by Bhishma and her rejection by King Salwa. She

requested the great sage to kill Bhishma. Parashurama felt sorry for the girl

and gave her hope by saying, ©O daughter of Kashi, I will not take up weapons

except to protect those that follow the Vedas. Tell me, therefore, what I can

do for you. Both Bhishma and Salwa are obedient to me. Do not lament. I will

fulfill your desire.¨

 

<T>Parashurama, the annihilator of the ksatriyas, then went to Hastinapura, and

when Bhishma learned that his preceptor had arrived, he went out of the city to

greet him. Bhishma worshipped him according to his position and then waited for

him to speak. Rama inquired from Bhishma, ©After taking a vow of celibacy, in

what mood did you abduct the princess of Kashi and then send her away?

Contaminated by the touch of your hands, no one will marry her. Salwa has

rejected her because you have forcibly placed her on your chariot. O King, it

is not proper for her to be humiliated in this way. Therefore, at my command

take her yourself and marry her according to Vedic rites.¨

 

<T>©O brahmana,¨ Maharaja Bhishma replied, ©I could not bestow this maiden upon

my brother because of her desire to accept Salwa as her lord. As for myself, I

have taken a vow of perpetual celibacy, and I will not break that vow under any

circumstances.¨ Upon hearing the disobedient words of his disciple, Parashurama

was outraged and rolling his eyes in anger, he said, ©If you do not follow my

commands, then I shall kill you this very day, along with your counsellors!¨

Bhishma tried to placate his preceptor by sweet words, but Parashurama could

not be pacified. He told Bhishma, ©You accepted me as your preceptor, yet, O

Kaurava, you will not follow my instructions. If you want to please me then

accept this maiden as your wife.¨

 

<T>©I cannot follow this instruction, O best of the rishis,¨ Maharaja Bhishma

replied. ©O son of Jamadagni, all your attempts to secure this marriage will be

in vain. What warrior would accept into his abode a woman whose heart was

wedded to another. O brahmana, I will not forsake justice even from fear of

Indra. One can reject the order of the preceptor if he is filled with vanity,

destitute of knowledge concerning right and wrong, and who follows a devious

path. You are my preceptor, and I have tried to pacify you as far as possible.

However, this instruction is not according to religious principles, and

therefore, I will fight with you. I would never slay my preceptor in battle.

However, it is a well known truth that one is not guilty of slaying a brahmana

who takes up arms like a kshatriya. Because you are acting unrighteously, I

will fight with you. O Rama, equip yourself with proper weapons and position

yourself on the Kurukshetra field. Subdued by my arrows, you will obtain the

higher regions. The brahmanas have spoken of the power which you exhibited

against the kingly dynasties long ago. However, in those days there was no

Bhishma, nor were there any warrior kings like Bhishma. Kshatriyas endowed with

power took their births later on. The person who will quell your pride has now

taken birth, and this is none other than myself.¨

 

<B>Chapter Commentary<M>

 

<T>Parashurama was the martial teacher of Bhishma, and, therefore, it was

expected that Bhishma would submit to the demands of his preceptor. That is how

one advances in spiritual life. Both Bhishma and Parashurama are in the

category of liberated associates of the Lord. Parashurama is an shaktavesha

avatara [an empowered living entity], and Bhishma was a pure devotee of the

Lord, one of the twelve mahajanas. This pastime was arranged by the internal

potency of the Lord and therefore cannot be imitated. The four Kumaras were

liberated devotees, and they disobeyed the order of their father, Brahma, when

he requested them to get married and beget progeny. The conditioned soul cannot

imitate these pastimes and disobey the order of the spiritual master. It is

stated by Vishvanatha Chakravarty Thakur that by pleasing the spiritual master

one pleases God, and by displeasing the spiritual master one displeases God. We

have personally seen during the life of our spiritual master that certain

disciples fell down from the path of devotional service by displeasing the

spiritual master. For the conditioned soul it is imperative that he follow the

order of Guru so that he can come to the transcendental platform of self

realization.

 

Vaisnava dasabhas

Nayana-ranjana das