Bhishma’s unwavering resolve – The Hindu

The Mahabharata narrates the stories of many noble and pious men and expounds various dharmas and the fundamental tenets of Hinduism. In every human life, difficult situations, sorrowful events, and severe testing times may arise. During such periods, people may lose their balance of mind and may even feel compelled to abandon the path of Dharma. A person’s mind may become perplexed due to lust, fear, or avarice. However, the scriptures caution us that Dharma should never be given up under any circumstance, regardless of the trials one may face.

The comforts and sorrows people experience are temporary. Only dharma is permanent. Equally, our physical body is perishable, and only the soul is permanent. We have to tread the path of dharma before our life span expires.

Sri Damodhara Dikshitar said in a discourse that the grandsire Bhishma once took a solemn vow to his father that he would never marry. Later, when Amba insisted that Bhishma marry her, he firmly refused, as it would violate the vow he had taken.

Unable to secure justice, Amba approached Bhishma’s preceptor Parasurama and pleaded with him to intervene and compel Bhishma to marry her. Out of compassion for Amba, the Acharya asked Bhishma to accept her. This placed Bhishma in a highly precarious situation.

However, Bhishma declared with unwavering firmness that the earth may lose its fragrance, fire may lose its lustre, the sky may be without sound, air may cease to blow, Indra — the chief of the celestials — may lose his valour, water may fail to give taste, and even Dharmaraja may act without dharma, but Bhishma would never transgress the promise he had made.

Thus, despite being caught in a difficult and complex predicament, Bhishma remained steadfast and resolute in upholding his vow, demonstrating his extraordinary commitment to truth and dharma.