Inquiries Into the Absolute: Digest 170, Bhisma's fighting againstArjuna

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Digest 170, May 30th, 2006. Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

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Bhisma's fighting against Arjuna

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Q: If Bhishma was a devotee of the Lord, then why did he choose to fight

against the Pandavas? Also why did he have to undergo a painful situation of

lying down in a bed of arrows?

 

In addition, why didn't Bhishmadev surrender to Lord Krishna like Vibhishana

surrendered to Lord Rama? Is it because Bhishma gave more importance to his vow

(his dharma) than to surrender to Krishna?

 

Answer: Bhishmadev is one of the 12 mahajanas, or great authorities in

devotional service to the Supreme Lord, and an eternal companion of the Lord.

As such, there is no question of his making a mistake or undergoing painful

situations; such apparent mistakes or difficulties in the lives of pure

devotees carry instructions for the conditioned souls as explained in the

previous answer, or they are meant for enhancing the pastimes of the Lord and

glorification of His pure devotees. All these different reasons are true in the

enigmatic life of Bhishmadev. These apparent contradictions are nicely

explained in Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 1, Ch 9 "The Passing Away of Bhishmadev"

http://vedabase.net/sb/1/9/en)

 

 

Re. Bhishma's lying on a bed of arrows:

Bhishmadeva was endowed with the amazing benediction of leaving his material

body at will, and his lying down on the bed of arrows was his own choice. His

unflinching devotion and wisdom even in such a seemingly aggrieved condition

speaks volumes of the character of Bhishmadev. This situation was especially

arranged by Lord Krishna Himself to glorify His pure devotee.

 

Subsequent to the battle, Maharaja Yudhisthira was in a state of intense

lamentation and remorse due to feeling responsible for the entire massacre; no

one including even Vyasadeva or Krishna Himself could pacify the emperor. At

that time, he came along with his brothers and Lord Krishna to seek

instructions from Bhismadev, lying on his bed of arrows. Knowing that the great

warrior was on the verge of leaving this mortal world and become liberated, all

the great sages in the universe had assembled there, and although apparently in

an excruciatingly painful condition, Bhishma received the sages and Lord

Krishna in an exemplary manner, managed to pacify Yudhisthira, and spoke

eloquently and at length, instructing Yudhisthira on religious and

transcendental subjects, with stunning depth and clarity. This entire episode

was orchestrated by Lord Krishna Himself just to establish the exalted

character of Bhishma.

 

Although in the dress of a warrior and statesman, Krishna wanted to show the

world that a pure devotee like Bhishma was no less in spiritual achievement

than great sages such as Vyasadeva, Vasishtha or Narada. The Lord also wanted

to show how a devotee is undisturbed and "always sound in body and mind by dint

of spiritual enlightenment, and thus in any circumstances a devotee of the Lord

is in perfect order to speak of the right way of life." (Cf SB 1.9.1-10,25)

 

Re. Bhishma's fighting against the Pandavas:

Bhishmadev was fully aware of the transcendental position of Krishna and had no

misgivings regarding the goal of all dharma being complete surrender unto Him -

this is demonstrated in his instructions to Yudhisthira as well as the

excellent prayers he offers to Krishna before quitting his body at will.

Despite knowing all this, he was simply surrendered to be engaged in the plan

of the Lord according to His will, even if it meant being on the wrong side and

being defeated. It was the plan of the Lord to establish to the world that vice

cannot conquer virtue, regardless of who tries to execute it. Bhishmadeva's

choosing to fight against the Pandavas was by the will of the Lord because the

Lord wanted to show that even a fighter like Bhishma cannot win on the wrong

side. (Cf SB 1.9.16)

 

There is also another deeper, internal reason for Bhishma's taking the side of

the opposing party, which is quite mysterious and can be comprehended only by

understanding to some extent the nature of pure devotional service. Srila

Prabhupada remarks that an astounding feature of dealings in pure devotion is

that a devotee can please the Lord by playing the part of an enemy.

Bhishmadev's mood of devotion to the Lord was servitude, but he also relished

exchanges in the chivalrous humor. He relished the opportunity to see the Lord

face-to-face on the battlefield in his military feature, guiding the chariot

and protecting His devotee Arjuna. He fought so valiantly so as to make the

Lord break His own promise and take up a weapon to save Arjuna, thus proving

the nature of his Lord as bhakti-vatsala. His entire meditation and absorption,

even at the time of death, was on these chivalrous exchanges and feature of the

Lord as Parthasarathi, whom he could observe with more relish than even Arjuna

who was standing behi

nd the Lord!

 

That it was all done entirely on the platform of pure devotion and nothing less

is borne out by the fact that Lord Krishna personally came before Bhishma and

awaited by him at the time of his quitting his body! (Cf. SB 9.33,38,39

http://vedabase.net/sb/1/9/38/en)

 

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