Stories From The Bhagavatham - When The Grandsire Of Hastinapur Departed

 

The great war of Kurukshetra was over. The Pandavas had won the kingdom which was rightfully theirs. Although the war was over, there was one Pandav who suffered from inner turmoil.

Yudhisthira, the son of Dharma could not feel any sense of victory or peace after the war. The death of an entire clan which composed of his cousins, great kings and Gurus, left him with immense grief. The noble-hearted Yudhisthira kept blaming himself. “It is because of my greed, my Rajya-lobha, that all these people had to die. This should not have been allowed to happen.”

Krishna tried to console Yudhisthira with words of wisdom. “The Kaurava clan was destroyed because of the Adharma that they were reaping in their souls. Have you forgotten the incident when they humiliated my sister Draupadi in front of the entire court? Do you not know the injustice they meted out to you? For the major sin of disrespecting Draupadi, they had to be killed. They carried within them, the germs of their own destruction. Let go of your grief and  your guilt. It was my purpose to see to it that you sit on the throne which was meant for you. Now that this mission has been accomplished, be happy with your brothers and with Draupadi and let me see and feel your happiness.”

Apart from Krishna, Vyasa and Narada too tried to console Yudhisthira but his grief ran deep. Most of all, he grieved over the killing of Radheya, his brother Karna. Yudhisthira’s grief seeped over the entire kingdom and affected everyone in his vicinity.

One day, Krishna grimly said to Yudhisthira. “Uttarayana is approaching, and with it, is approaching the time for Bhishma to leave the mortal world. When the grandsire passes away, an entire world of knowledge and wisdom will go away with him. I will suggest that you approach him and learn from him, the art of ruling a kingdom and preparing yourself for your new responsibilities.”

The very next day, the Pandavas, along with Krishna, approached Bhishma who was lying on a bed of arrows. Yudhisthira stood before him with folded hands and tears in his eyes. “Here I am, Pitamah, the sinner responsible for killing your grandsons and also the cause of your death. I do not know what kind of hell awaits me.”

Bhishma comforted Yudhisthira. “Do not think you have killed me. You have granted me freedom from the bondage of life. If only you knew how tired I feel of living! Wipe away your sorrow; it is unworthy of a king. Your duty is to rise above your own petty grief and to think about the people of your kingdom.”

Krishna said to Bhishma. “I, Narada and Vyasa have tried to comfort him but none of us could succeed. May be you would do what we all could not!”

Bhishma was dismayed. “It grieves me to see you all so despondent, Yudhisthira. Much have you suffered since your birth. Your mother, Kunti, has gone through many trials and tribulations to raise you without a father. Fate has cruelly played with all of you. What other explanation can be there to this, that the son of Dharma, along with his brothers, could not rule his own kingdom all these years!? We do not know the ways of Fate. But this one knows, this son of Vasudeva, Krishna, whom you all consider to be your cousin, mentor, friend, even charioteer! He is none other than Narayana! It was this Krishna who made this all happen. Do you doubt the righteousness of His actions? He is Ishvara Himself. He has nothing to do with the petty desires and emotions that we go through. Yet He helped you because you all are tied to Him through Bhakti. My thoughts are always with Him. He knows, and see, here He is, granting my desire!”

Krishna intervened. “Bhishma, I have to ask a favour of you. Your mother Ganga arranged for you to learn everything that an ideal king should know and should be. Will you share your knowledge with Yudhisthira? He is the only one worthy of receiving your wisdom. May your knowledge not go with you to the heavens and may it benefit him!”

Bhishma agreed and for the next fifty-four days, he taught Yudhisthira everything he knew.

When Uttarayana came, Bhishma prepared himself for his last journey. Knowing fully well that those who shed their mortal life during Dakshinayan are subject to re-birth, Bhishma had waited both patiently as well as impatiently for Uttarayana. He asked for some flowers and worshipped Krishna with them.

Bhishma said. “It is said that when it is time for the breath to leave the body, one should close their eyes and contemplate on the Divine. But I have the Divine right in front of me! Can anything be more blessed than this?!” Focusing his thoughts on Krishna, Bhishma became silent and thus departed from the earth, the grandsire of Hastinapur after a long and tiring journey through life.

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya!