“Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevayah”
Mahabharat, the deadliest war known in ancient time. Worst was the very immediate seeds of war started from just a royal family and every other states aligned themselves in either of the groups and thus lead to perhaps the first World war, The Mahabharat.
Many questions arise, what leads to so much animosity among cousins of own family that they chosen extreme path? Well then the answer lies in the very magnitude of the war. There were reasons; they were all big and very big reasons. But for those who want to jump to the conclusion that reasons lies between Kaurvas and Pandavas, then they might be wrong.
The seeds of such a war was sewed many generations back. That seed was the seed of extreme lust for and greed of power. Once that was sewed it keep giving one after other seeds of similar disasters which finally concluded to such a destruction as Mahabharat:
In this post I’d try to put those factors in short:
Three Generations back: Desire of Santanu for a young woman
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Santanu The great grandfather of Karavas and Pandavas, while on hunting expedition meets a beautiful fisherman girl Satyavati. Though in real she was the daughter of Chedi King Vasu and a cursed Apsara Adrika born outside wedding. She was brought up the Fisherman chief and ferryman at the banks of River Yamuna.
King Santanu met her during one of his holiday expeditions. She was extremely beautiful and full of fragrance which was provided by Sage Prasara. Though Santanu was approaching old age but he developed desires for her and proposed her for marriage. She agreed, but agreed to the conditions which were not only wrong but politically disastrous . Obviously Santanu did not accept them, but then he returned depressed, effecting his everyday functioning in his state.
The conditions Put by Satyawati: The first seed of greed and lust for power
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To marry to Santanu, Satyawati put these conditions to King Santanu
1. Only Her Children will be next king
2. After that the children of her children and their children should be the king.
She practically blocked any other way for anybody else to be the future kings other than from her own lineage. Such a lust for power?
This was completely against all norms to be a king. The elder son of King supposed to the automatic heir of the throne. Yes, if it was found that he cannot lead the state due to some reasons then selections were made from other princes based upon the hierarchy and capabilities.
Santanu already had a bright, able and extraordinary son, The Devabrata. He was the student of none other the Sage Parsurama and was the best known worrior, the expert of politics and all social matters. He was one of the ablest man known on earth in that period of time. From all parameters he supposed to be the next king.
Devabrata Accepting the Conditions: Great morality but a great political curse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Santanu did not accept the conditions of Satyawati and returned empty handed to state, depressed and dejected. His depression started affecting the Royal court procedure which was noticed by all ministers including his son Devabrata. Devabrata tried to ask his father about the reasons of his sadness and depression but Santanu did not disclose. Devabrata started inquiring about it to all ministers and those who went with his father on the holiday expeditions. He could not find the reason but this that his father met a girl at forest side and is seen sad after that.
He was a devoted and a highly moral person. To bring happiness to his father he was ready to do anything. He personally went to Satyawati and asked from her what she has told his father that he went into the depression. Satyawati first insisted him to go his father only and ask the reasons and not to her. But Devabrata insisted, and then Satyawati told those conditions.
Well he accepted those conditions of Satyawati without any hesitation, but that was not it. There was more to come. Satyawati, told, well I believe your words and convinced that you will not be the hurdle to be next king , but what is the guarantee that your children will honor your words and will not put claims for the throne after you?
Well, as if only this disaster was left to be unturned. This was the limit of political greed by a woman and a test of morality for an able man. Devabrata justifying his reputation took a promise which was extraordinary.
He given the words that He will never marry and would be Bramhachari whole life. He also promised that he will always serve the state as the servant. As if only falling of sky was left, otherwise all political disaster was done till the time. The morality, the ability, the values were being sacrificed for political greed, selfishness and lust for power. That was the clear sign of coming disaster.
Whosoever heard this was in shock. His mother, The Ganga was the most shocked among them and became very sad. But she knew her son is a man of highest virtues and has given the maximum sacrifice following his Dharma as a Son.
She blessed Devabrata that he will live immortal on this earth, He will die only with his own wish and nobody would be able kill him.
This promise(Ptragiya) is called as “Bhisma Pratigya”. Bhisma means the tough, the difficult. This also brought him with this name “The Bhisma”, Devabrata Bhisma.
Continued…
"Shri Hari Om Tat Sat"
Mahabharat, the deadliest war known in ancient time. Worst was the very immediate seeds of war started from just a royal family and every other states aligned themselves in either of the groups and thus lead to perhaps the first World war, The Mahabharat.
Many questions arise, what leads to so much animosity among cousins of own family that they chosen extreme path? Well then the answer lies in the very magnitude of the war. There were reasons; they were all big and very big reasons. But for those who want to jump to the conclusion that reasons lies between Kaurvas and Pandavas, then they might be wrong.
The seeds of such a war was sewed many generations back. That seed was the seed of extreme lust for and greed of power. Once that was sewed it keep giving one after other seeds of similar disasters which finally concluded to such a destruction as Mahabharat:
In this post I’d try to put those factors in short:
Three Generations back: Desire of Santanu for a young woman
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Santanu The great grandfather of Karavas and Pandavas, while on hunting expedition meets a beautiful fisherman girl Satyavati. Though in real she was the daughter of Chedi King Vasu and a cursed Apsara Adrika born outside wedding. She was brought up the Fisherman chief and ferryman at the banks of River Yamuna.
King Santanu met her during one of his holiday expeditions. She was extremely beautiful and full of fragrance which was provided by Sage Prasara. Though Santanu was approaching old age but he developed desires for her and proposed her for marriage. She agreed, but agreed to the conditions which were not only wrong but politically disastrous . Obviously Santanu did not accept them, but then he returned depressed, effecting his everyday functioning in his state.
The conditions Put by Satyawati: The first seed of greed and lust for power
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To marry to Santanu, Satyawati put these conditions to King Santanu
1. Only Her Children will be next king
2. After that the children of her children and their children should be the king.
She practically blocked any other way for anybody else to be the future kings other than from her own lineage. Such a lust for power?
This was completely against all norms to be a king. The elder son of King supposed to the automatic heir of the throne. Yes, if it was found that he cannot lead the state due to some reasons then selections were made from other princes based upon the hierarchy and capabilities.
Santanu already had a bright, able and extraordinary son, The Devabrata. He was the student of none other the Sage Parsurama and was the best known worrior, the expert of politics and all social matters. He was one of the ablest man known on earth in that period of time. From all parameters he supposed to be the next king.
Devabrata Accepting the Conditions: Great morality but a great political curse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Santanu did not accept the conditions of Satyawati and returned empty handed to state, depressed and dejected. His depression started affecting the Royal court procedure which was noticed by all ministers including his son Devabrata. Devabrata tried to ask his father about the reasons of his sadness and depression but Santanu did not disclose. Devabrata started inquiring about it to all ministers and those who went with his father on the holiday expeditions. He could not find the reason but this that his father met a girl at forest side and is seen sad after that.
He was a devoted and a highly moral person. To bring happiness to his father he was ready to do anything. He personally went to Satyawati and asked from her what she has told his father that he went into the depression. Satyawati first insisted him to go his father only and ask the reasons and not to her. But Devabrata insisted, and then Satyawati told those conditions.
Well he accepted those conditions of Satyawati without any hesitation, but that was not it. There was more to come. Satyawati, told, well I believe your words and convinced that you will not be the hurdle to be next king , but what is the guarantee that your children will honor your words and will not put claims for the throne after you?
Well, as if only this disaster was left to be unturned. This was the limit of political greed by a woman and a test of morality for an able man. Devabrata justifying his reputation took a promise which was extraordinary.
He given the words that He will never marry and would be Bramhachari whole life. He also promised that he will always serve the state as the servant. As if only falling of sky was left, otherwise all political disaster was done till the time. The morality, the ability, the values were being sacrificed for political greed, selfishness and lust for power. That was the clear sign of coming disaster.
Whosoever heard this was in shock. His mother, The Ganga was the most shocked among them and became very sad. But she knew her son is a man of highest virtues and has given the maximum sacrifice following his Dharma as a Son.
She blessed Devabrata that he will live immortal on this earth, He will die only with his own wish and nobody would be able kill him.
This promise(Ptragiya) is called as “Bhisma Pratigya”. Bhisma means the tough, the difficult. This also brought him with this name “The Bhisma”, Devabrata Bhisma.
Continued…
"Shri Hari Om Tat Sat"