What I learned from Bhishma

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At a time when there is no dearth of historical or mythological serials on the television, Star Plus went on to produce yet another version of Mahabharata. And they made it big – making it India's most expensive TV series – spent close to 100 crore as per statistics disclosed in September 2013. The producer of the show commented that it took him nearly 20 days to shoot the most iconic scene – "Draupadi's cheerharan" due to the grandeur that needed to be created. Since both, my wife and I grew up watching BR Chopra's – then state-of-the-art, now lackluster – retelling of Mahabharata, often find the current TV series appalling for various reasons. The topmost being the time spent in bringing out the emotions during the 'most iconinc scene rather event'. Definitely this is the turning point in the history which started the avalanche brining the entire India to a halt. This event is also a reminder of shame.

While we kept discussing the efficacy of the epic and its retelling, I always watch it with the curiosity of a kid. And alas, I found my golden nugget yesterday!

The scene was of Bhishma plundering the Pandava army and Arjun refusing to cause any harm to him as Bhishma is his elder. Inspite of being advised by Krishna, Arjuna was not ready to raise weapons against Bhishma. Bhishma, on the other hand agitates Krishna and keeps on with his attack on the Pandava army. Rightfully, there is no match for him. Also equipped with the boon of immortality from his father, Bhishma is invincible. Krishna took an oath prior to the war that he would not fight in the Mahabharata war as he supported both Kauravas and Pandavas in different capacities. Bhishma took opportunity of this oath of Sri Krishna and continues to agitate him. Finally, Krishna took the wheel of a chariot and ran towards Bhishma as if to chop his head using the Sudarshan chakra. At this time, there is an interesting dialog in between the two which intrigues me.

Bhishma asks Krishna for what he did wrong to cause Krishna break his oath and run to kill him? Bhishma goes on to say that all his life he followed the promise provided to his father, and caring only for the betterment of the throne of Hastinapur. Bhishma asks that "Is giving up every personal aspiration is a crime? Is following my promise a crime? Is protecting the rule established by my ancestors a crime? Then for which crime am I being punished?"

Imagine Krishna's answers!

Krishna answered "To follow one promise, you gave up on your all your karma. To follow the dharma you gave up on karma. What was needed was to follow the karma, and leave out the expectation from the same. Your crime is to stop the nature taking its regular course. Your crime is to follow the promise even when the times changed. Your crime is to follow the promise when the entire system failed. Your crime is to make follow is to follow your own duties, rather than enforcing others to perform their duties as well. Your crime is that you lived for yourself and did everything to make yourself upright. Your crime is not to think about other's dharma". Krishna then reminded Bhishma of the various extremities subjected to others to help him keep his promises – to princesses Amba, Ambika and Ambalika; to princess Gandhari; to Draupadi by keeping quiet in his reverent duty to the throne; and later when Duryodhana refused to give Pandavas what was rightfully theirs. Krishna accuses Bhishma to have turned away from his duties just to follow one promise. Bhishma had shied away from the harsh decisions that were needed at the appropriate times to have steered the mankind for a better future.

Doing the right things is not always the correct option. Doing the appropriate thing which is considerate of everyone is most important. Never turn away from your duties. Leaders are born when decisions are taken. It's the leaders who take the decisions, followers only follow the decisions. Decisions may be right or wrong. Their responsibility lies with the leader. Hence, the win or the loss is said to be of the leader and not of the follower. Never shy away from the decisions you have to take.

The world is all yours. Don't shape it like Bhishma. He was great, but selfish. Please don't be so.

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