"Vaisampayana said, 'The unfortunate Satyavati then became plunged in grief on account of her son (Vichitravirya). After performing with her daughters-in-law the funeral rites of the deceased, (Satyavati) consoled as best she could, her weeping daughters-in-law and Bhishma, that foremost of all wielders of weapons.
"Turning her eyes to Dharma, and to the paternal and maternal lines (of the Kurus), she addressed Gaangeya (Bhishma) and said 'The funeral cake, the achievements, and the perservation of the line of the Dharmic and celebrated Shantanu of Kuru's race, all now depend on you. As the attainment of heaven is inseparable from good deeds, as long life is inseparable from truth and faith, so is Dharma inseparable from you. O one of Dharma, you are well-familiar, in detail and in the abstract, with the dictates of Dharma, with various Srutis, and with all the branches of the Vedas (Vedaanga in Sanskrit); know very well that you are equal to (Asura Guru) Shukra and Angiras (Deva Guru Brihaspati's father) as regards firmness in Dharma, knowledge of the particular customs of families, and readiness of inventions under difficulties. Therefore, O foremost of men of Dharma, relying on you greatly, I shall appoint you in a certain matter. Hearing me, it is your duty to do my bidding. O bull among men, my son and your brother, endued with energy and dear to you, has gone childless to heaven while still a boy. These wives of your brother, the friendly daughters of the ruler of Kashi, possessing beauty and youth, have become desirous of children. Therefore, O you of mighty arms, at my command, raise offspring on them for the preservation of our line. It is your duty to guard Dharma against loss. Install yourself on the throne and rule the kingdom of the Bharatas. You duly wed a wife. Do not plunge your ancestors into hell.'
"Vaishampaayana continued, 'Thus addressed by his mother (Satyavati) and friends and relatives, that oppressor of enemies, the Dharmic Bhishma, gave this reply conformable to the dictates of Dharma, 'O mother (Satyavati), what you say is certainly sanctioned by Dharma. But you know what my vow (Vrata in Sanskrit) is in the matter of fathering children. You also know all that transpired in connection with your husband. O Satyavati, I repeat the pledge I once gave - I would renounce three worlds, the empire of heaven, anything that may be greater than that, but I would never renounce truth. The earth may renounce its fragnance, water may renounce its moisture, light may renounce its attribute of exhibiting forms, air may renounce its attribute of touch, the Sun may renounce his glory, fire - its heat, the moon - his cooling rays, space - its capacity of generating sound, the slayer of Vritra (Lord Indra) - his prowess, the Dharmadeva - his impartiality; but I cannot renounce truth.'
"Thus addressed by her son (Bhishma) provided with wealth of energy, Satyavati said to Bhishma, 'O you whose prowess is truth, I know of your firmness in truth. You can, if so minded, create by the help of your energy, three worlds other than those that exist. I know what your vow (Vrata in Sanskrit) was on my account. But considering this emergency, you bear the burden of the duty that one owes to his ancestors. O punisher of enemies, act in such a way that the lineal link may not be broken and our friends and relatives may not grieve.'
"Thus urged by the miserable and weeping Satyavati speaking such words inconsistent with Dharma from grief at the loss of her son, Bhishma addressed her again and said, 'O Queen (Satyavati), do not turn your eyes away from Dharma. O, destroy us not. Breach of truth by a Kshatriya is never applauded in our treatises on Dharma. O Queen, I shall soon tell you what the established Kshatriya usage is to which recourse may be had to prevent Shantanu's line becoming extinct on earth. Hearing me, think on what should be done in consultation with learned priests and those that are acquainted with practices allowable in times of emergency and distress, forgetting not at the same time what the ordinary course of social conduct is.'"
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