The Lord’s Spiritual Ma(e)ssage – Part 2 [granthraj]

In the last mail we saw how Bhishmadeva was massaged by the Lord and blessed by Him to speak on spiritual subjects to Yudhishtira and how the Lord inspired Yudhishtira to ask questions to Bhishmadev. Bhishmadev became rejuvenated and youthful by the Lord’s grace said he was ready to speak on the matters related to dharma. Before his speaking, he asked Lord Krishna a question. "My Lord, when You, the source of all knowledge is present here, why are you asking me to advise Yudhishtira? It’s like a disciple speaking when the guru is present".

The Lord’s Spiritual Ma(e)ssage – Part 1 [granthraj]

To this, Lord Vasudeva replied, "Bhishma, you know well that I am the root of all fame and of everything that leads to good. All things matter and spirit proceed from Me” and the Lord answered Bhishma’s question as follows (Mahabharata, Shanti parva, 54.26-28).

seetaamshus candra ity ukte / ko loke vismayishyati
tathaiva yashasaa purne / mayi ko vismayishyati
aadheyam tu mayaa bhuyo / yashas tava mahaadyute
tato me vipulaa buddhis / tvayi bhishma samaahitaa
yaavad dhi prithivipaala / prithivi sthaasyate dhruvaa
taavat tavaakshayaa keertir / lokaan anucarishyati

"Who on earth will wonder if the moon be said to be of cool rays? Similarly, who will wonder if I were described as one possessed of the full measure of fame? I have, however, resolved to enhance your fame, O effulgent One. It is for this, O Bhishma, that I have just inspired you with great intelligence. As long as the earth will last, O Lord of earth, so long will your fame travel with undiminished luster through all the worlds.."

The Lord then continued: "Whatever, O Bhishma, you will impart unto the inquiring son of Pandu, will be regarded on earth to be as authoritative as the declarations of that Vedas. That person who will conduct himself here according to the authority of your declarations, will obtain hereafter the reward of every meritorious act. For this reason, O Bhishma, I have imparted to you the celestial understanding so that your fame may be enhanced on earth."

This pastime reveals the fact that the Lord who was very competent to instruct Yudhishtira selected His devotee Bhishmadev to get all glorifications.

In the Srimad Bhagavatam also this point is wonderfully explained in 1.9.25:

yudhishthiras tad aakarnya / shayaanam sara-panjare
apricchad vividhaan dharmaan / rshinaam caanushrnvataam

Suta Gosvami said: "Maharaja Yudhishthira , after hearing Bhishmadeva speak in that appealing tone, asked him, in the presence of all the great rishis, about the essential principles of various religious duties."

Srila Prabhupada in his great commentary explains the Lord’s desire to glorify His pure devotee at the time of His pure devotee leaving this world.

"Lord Sri Krishna inspired Maharaja Yudhishthira to ask Bhishmadeva in the presence of many great sages, indicating thereby that the Lord’s devotee like Bhishmadeva, although apparently living as a worldly man, is far superior to many great sages, even Vyasadeva. Another point is that Bhishmadeva at that time was not only lying on a deathbed of arrows, but was greatly aggrieved because of that state. One should not have asked him any question at that time, but Lord Sri Krishna wanted to prove that His pure devotees are always sound in body and mind by dint of spiritual enlightenment, and thus in any circumstances a devotee of the Lord is in perfect order to speak of the right way of life. Yudhishthira also preferred to solve his problematic questions by asking Bhishmadeva rather than ask anyone else present there who was seemingly more learned than Bhishmadeva. This is all due to the arrangement of the great wheel-carrier Lord Sri Krishna, who establishes the glories of His devotee. The father likes to see the son become more famous than himself. The Lord declares very emphatically that worship of His devotee is more valuable than the worship of the Lord Himself."

We will see the wonderful lessons that can be learnt from the above pastime of Bhishmacharya in the next mail, Krishna willing.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudeva,
Narahari Krishna Dasa
Chennai.

Disclaimer: This article was originally published in the Yahoo Groups granthraj – run by the disciples of H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj – by the devotee name mentioned above. The posting in this article, is original realizations of our Guru Maharaj and the devotee who wrote this. Any comments regarding this article would be passed on directly to the devotee. In this article, ‘Maharaj’ and ‘Gurudev’ implicitly refer to our spiritual master H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj.

Related posts:

1. The Lord’s Spiritual Ma(e)ssage – Part 3 [granthraj]
2. The Lord’s Spiritual Ma(e)ssage – Part 1 [granthraj]
3. Benediction Asked by the Supreme Lord [granthraj]
4. All-spiritual Form of the Lord