Dharma from Death-bed

Yudhishtira’s distress

After the Kurukshetra war and his coronation, Yudhishtira was plagued by regret about the brutality and fatalities of the war. He was so disturbed that he even contemplated giving up the throne.

When his brothers, Droupadi and learned advisors spoke to him regarding dharma, he did not find any solace in their words as he felt that all their advice was arising out of affection for him.

Vyaasa and Krishna repeatedly told him “It is indeed dharma” using scriptures and logic. Yet Yudhishtira was not convinced. Then, the two of them suggested – “You may doubt our intentions, as your well-wishers, but you cannot doubt Bheeshma since he belongs to the enemy camp. Therefore, go to him”. Krishna did not want the sun that was Bheeshma to set without sharing his vast knowledge with the Pandavas.

Dharmaraja along with Vyaasa and Krishna, his brothers, Droupadi and numerous sages went to meet Bheeshma. But, Dharmaraja felt greatly embarrassed to approach the pitamaha who was lying on a bed of arrows because of them, to now ask for moral guidance.

Bheeshma’s discourse

Krishna told Bheeshma about Yudhishtira’s predicament. Bheeshma who bore no ill will towards the Pandavas for his plight encouraged Yudhishtira to ask him anything. When Yudhishtira requested him to speak on dharma, Bheeshma commented that the person most capable of advising him on the subject was Krishna himself.

But Krishna wanted Bheeshma’s name to go down in history and therefore spoke of moksha-dharma and raaja-dharma to Dharmaraaja through Bheeshma! He granted Bheeshma immunity from the pain of the arrows that pierced his body.

Then Bheeshma imparted knowledge on statecraft, duties of a king, characteristics of a just and able king, society, economy, philosophy and detachment. These form two parvas or chapters of the Mahabhaaratha.

In a discourse similar to an extent to Jada Bharatha’s discourse to king Rahugana, Bheeshma spoke these words...

“The main duty for a king is to adhere to dharma dear to the paramaatma. Being aware that Vishnu possesses complete and infinite auspicious attributes and that he alone is independent while all others are always under his control is essential. To engage in productive work is dharma, as is giving up attachment over results of any action."

He advised Yudhishthira not to let his inherent compassion weaken his rule. He spoke of how a ruler must be pragmatic and have trustworthy ministers and spies and a strong treasury to defend the kingdom.

He instructed Yudhishtira to collect taxes without cruelty, and use the accumulated wealth for the protection and development of the kingdom.

Thus Krishna present inside Bheeshma, taught these and other secrets of dharma to the Pandavas, says Srimadhaacharya in his Mahabharatha Tatparya Nirnaya.

Of course this story will be incomplete without including the famous question of Yudhishtira to Bheeshma as to who was the most worthy of worship? To which Bheeshmacharya composed the thousand names of Vishnu or the Vishnu-sahsranaama.

It is said that the Bhagavad Gita is the philosophical core of the Mahabhaaratha and the Vishnu sahasranaama contains the essence of the Gita.