Message of Mahabharata

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

Message of Mahabharata

 Bhishma's vow

It may be said that the story of the Mahabharata proper really begins when Bhishma returns to his father, Shantanu. Thus begins the real story of the dynastic struggles of the Kurus. Bhisma's vow raises many questions. 

Mahabharata is at the same time history, legend, mythology, scripture and religious instruction. And yet, Mahabharata is not a moral fable. It is much too complex a history to satisfy our need for simple moral conclusions. In this great epic we find heroes involved in all too human problems. And the solutions to questions are not always given. It allows us to reflect on the tragic consequences of karma while following the lives of great personalities. Our own struggle towards right living may be enlightened by seeing how these great souls struggled with their dharma and karma.

Bhishma's vow has terrible consequences. By renouncing the kingdom, Bhishma changes the succession. As prince did he have a right to decide the succession? His decision has grave consequences.

Consequences

Was his vow the spontaneous emotional reaction of a young man, or was it based on thoughtful consideration? Sometimes our emotions lead us into trouble. 

Shantanu himself was an older man. Yet he fell prey to his emotions by succumbing to an infatuation with a young woman. His infatuation with Satyavati brings about the downfall of his dynasty. Bhisma was a worthy successor to Shantanu. Neither the hot-blooded Chitrangada nor the gentle Vichitravirya were really qualified to succeed. Bhishma's vow impels him to create a new line of succession, one that disintegrates into dissension and finally war. Could the war have been avoided if Shantanu had controlled his emotions? 

Old age brings infirmity. It reminds us of our mortality. Shouldn't Shantanu have concentrated on his spiritual life in his old age, instead of chasing after a young woman? 

Bhishma was learned, and had been trained to rule as  king. But with his blind obedience to his father he deprives the kingdom of Hastinapura of his capable leadership. His self-abnegation leads to the corruption of an empire. All this so that his aging father can satisfy his lust for a young woman. Parashurama was Bhishma's guru. He was an example of blind obedience to his father and guru. But Bhishma's father made him renounce the kingdom so he could court a young maiden. Is blind obedience towards superior authority a good thing?  When is obedience a virtue?

 Bhishma is a righteous personality, but sometimes he appears to be  exploited for his sincerity and dedication by his selfish relations, from Shantanu to Duryodhana. We find numerous such evidences in the Mahabharata. He is a man of his word and always keeps his promise. Is following a vow always a good thing? Or should one be more flexible and try to do the right thing according to time, place, and circumstances? These are some of the difficult ethical questions posed by Mahabharata. 

And yet, while many questions remain unanswered and the heroes and champions display human flaws, Mahabharata insists on integrity. It is never right to do wrong. 

We see the karmic consequences of bad judgment and harmful conduct everywhere. The Mahabharata teaches us that there are consequences for our deeds. “Whatever you sow, that you will reap.” Wrongdoing is always punished; not with eternal hell, but with failure in this life and an unhappy next life.

Right Action

So, while Mahabharata is not a moral fable, we find in its verses that right action is rewarded in well being and success. Intelligence, goodness, wisdom, and integrity are to be practiced. Ignorance, dishonesty, avarice and fraud are to be avoided. We should reject the temptation to be dishonest and unscrupulous.

Apart from the higher wisdom teachings on the nature of self, karma, the origin of the universe and the perfection of yoga in bhakti, in dedication to Krishna, Mahabharata gives very practical ethical instructions through the stories of its heroes.  It teaches that to believe that it is necessary on occasion to be less than honest is false. A life of discipline, of dharma is exalted. A lawless society cannot long survive.

The ultimate teaching of Mahabharata is found in Bhagavad-gita, where Krishna teaches the lesson of immutable reality and absolute love:

Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 10 text 8 (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami)

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo

mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate

iti matvā bhajante māṁ

budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ

SYNONYMS

aham—I; sarvasya—of all; prabhavaḥ—source of generation; mattaḥ—from Me; sarvam—everything;pravartate—emanates; iti—thus; matvā—knowing; bhajante—becomes devoted; mām—unto Me; budhāḥ—learned; bhāva-samanvitāḥ—with great attention.

TRANSLATION

I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts

Bhagavad-gita Verse 10.8 - Commentary by Bhakti Rakshaka Shridhar 

Verse 10.8

aham sarvasya prabhavo, mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam, budha bhava-samanvitah

aham prabhavah - I am the Supreme Absolute Truth, svayam Bhagavan or the original Supreme Lord, the cause; sarvasya - of all causes, including Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan, i.e., the all-comprehensive aspect of the Absolute, the all-permeating aspect of the Absolute, and the personal aspect of the Absolute, which is endowed with all the qualities that attract everyone to serve Him. sarvam- All attempts in the universe of matter and spirit, and the Vedas and allied scriptures with their functions; pravartate - begin; mattah - Realizing; iti - this mystery; budhah - persons blessed with fine theistic intellect; bhava-samanvitah- endowed with their internal devotional nature of servitude, friendship, parenthood, or consorthood; bhajante - devote themselves; mam - unto Me.

I am Krsna, the Sweet Absolute. I am the root cause of the all-comprehensive aspect of the Absolute, the all-permeating aspect of the Absolute, and also the personal aspect of the Absolute - the Master of all potencies, who commands the respect of everyone - Lord Narayana of Vaikuntha. The universe of mundane and divine flow, every attempt and movement, the Vedas and allied scriptures which guide everyone's worship - all are initiated by Me alone. Realizing this hidden treasure, the virtuous souls who are blessed with fine theistic intellect surpass the standards of duty and nonduty, and embrace the paramount path of love divine, raga-marga, and adore Me forever.

These lessons are instilled in our minds by the incidents and episodes of the Mahabharata as well as by the wisdom teachings of Krishna in Bhagavad-gita.