Pearls of wisdom in the Mahabharata

CHENNAI, JUNE 21. To strictly abide by Truth is the duty of every human being because it is the highest refuge and is even considered as the greatest penance. Likewise, righteousness should be his watchword and if he upholds it under all circumstances, he will be highly successful and rewarded in his endeavour. Man's another important commitment should be to observe self-restraint as it will lead him to the highest glory. Several valuable guidelines are contained in the Mahabharata tendered by a great seasoned, veteran administrator and indisputable leader, when he was asked by an equally scholarly and virtuous person regarding the responsibilities of a ruler in his personal and official capacity. The dissertation of the former, Bhishma, advising the latter, Yudhishtra, reveal pearls of wisdom to be of use for all.

One among them points out how man is born alone and quits the world in the same manner carrying with him nothing. No one will be interested in the body that has been left. But ``Righteousness'' alone follows him as the sole companion. The funeral rites of the departed heroes over, Krishna took Yudhishtra whose heart was full of remorse to the grandsire, Bhishma, awaiting his death. At the request of the Lord, the latter explained the nuances of Dharma. The weak, aged warriorafter worshipping Krishna was able to unravel the most intricate knots of the mysteries of the universe, clearing all doubts about the role of a king and his true conduct.

Some of the salient features of Bhishma's answers to Yudhishtra, explained by Srimathi Prema Pandurang in her discourse, were as follows: The duty of a Kshatriya is to fight; an administrator should always be truthful if he is to inspire confidence in the minds of citizens; justice should be his second nature; a king's conduct should be above reproach; he has to take guidance from scholars and men of wisdom before assuming office as they have the inner vision to judge what is in his mind and what is in store for him; honest men who are absolutely trustworthy should be appointed to administer justice; worship of mother, father and preceptor is absolutely necessary; virtue should be acquired for the purification of the soul, wealth earned to spend without desire for the fruits, intelligence which helps one to plan the future; the wise will restrain their senses and hence can rise above the grasping hands of desire, wrath and attachment. To a final question as to who is the one object which is our sole refuge, Bhishma replied that Krishna is the Lord of the universe.

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