MAHABHARATAM- Prelude to the Bhagavad Geeta: 2. SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA
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Wednesday 27, Aug 2025, 06:30.
THE MAHABHARATA M
(in 18 Episodes)
PRELUDE to the Bhagavad Geeta - 2.
Reflections by
SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA.
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Episode 2: The Story of Bhishma:
As time went by, child after child was placed into the Ganga, and Santanu was greatly grieved to see this but had to remain silent. Eventually when the 8th child was born, and was about to be consigned to Mother Ganga, it was too much for Santanu to bear and he burst out to question her heartlessness: “Stop! Who are you? And why are you doing this?”
The Goddess simply said, “My dear Aryaputra, it is time for me to leave you. My name is Ganga, I am Goddess Ganga.”
The babies were the Vasus who were cursed to be born as humans because they had tried to steal from Sage Vasishtha’s Ashram the Kamadenu cow, named Nandini, which could bestow anything one desired. Because they sought his forgiveness, Vasishtha said that when they are born they will die immediately and return to heaven – all except one of them, who will lead a glorious life and be worshipped by all.
Mother Ganga then took that eighth child away, saying, “I will educate him and return him to you.”
Some years later, one day when Santanu had gone again to the forest, he saw a young lad with radiant luster. He had caused the mighty Ganges to retreat by building a “Dam of Arrows” shot one after the other into the Ganga. Santanu was dumbstruck at the sight. He asked the boy, “Son, who are you?”
Gangaji appeared and said that the boy was his own son, that his name was Devavrata, and that none equalled him in the art of archery. She said he was the best in statecraft, and would make a worthy successor. From then on the King lived a plain life and observed Brahmacharya. Devavrata, too, lived like his father in intense austerity.
One day Santanu smelt a divine fragrance waft in his direction. He searched for the source and came upon a lady. He dearly wished to marry her. She said, “I am a fisherwoman. My father is the king of our community. I shall take you to him.”
She took him to her father. The father placed a condition: “The son born to my daughter should become the king in due course.” Santanu could not say ‘Yes’ because Devavrata was in line to be the King. With pain he went back to the forest.
Devavrata saw the sorrow on his father’s face, and asked, “What is the matter, Father? Why are you so despondent?” The father told his son the whole story of his sadness. Devavrata went to the king of the fishermen and asked him, “Why do you not want to give your daughter to my father in marriage?” The king said, “You are the Prince, so my daughter’s son will not be king.” Devavrata then offered to turn down the kingship. The king asked, “But what about your children? You will marry and have children who will be like lions. They will stand in line for the kingdom.” At once, without any hesitation Devavrata said, “No, I will not let children to be born from me, I will NOT MARRY,
I will remain a Naishtik Brahmachari. Service to the nation is my Seva.” At that moment the skies were rent by the thunderous sounds of “BHISHMA, Bhishma, Bhishma!!!
The skies poured forth flowers to honour such a great vow. Henceforth Devavrata became known as Bhishma, owing to his extraordinary vow of celibacy.
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Next
Episode 3: Amba Seeks Revenge on Bhishma
Continued
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