Re: Bhishma's death

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna! Dear Mihir, This pastime is meant us to show us that even the purest devotees, the greatest Mahajanas, are not exempt from suffering due to offenses against the pure devotees. The Lord gives this suffering to His pure devotees just to show us how Vaishnava aparadha is the most serious offense in creation. Pure devotees normally don't commit any Vaishnava aparaddha and if they "apparently" do like in Bhishma's case, it is only meant to instruct us (conditioned souls) about the great perils of harming devotees. The lesson learnt from these kind of pastimes is that even one if is a pure devotee, one is not fully exempt from the reactions of Vaishnava aparadha, like in Shrila Bhishma's and Shrila Akrura's cases, then what to speak of the normal devotees and other non-devotees.

The "offenses" Shrila Bhishma committed were to remain a silent spectator (even though he was capable to stop it) to the constant harm inflicted by the evil Duryodhana and Shakuni on the Pandavas, who were pure devotees of Lord Krishna. When one remains a silent spectator to the criticism against pure devotees and does not try to stop it even though one has the authority and the capacity to do it and does not leave the place (like in the disrobing attempt of Draupadi), then one has to suffer the reactions just like Shrila Bhishma had to undergo by sleeping on the bed of arrows for 50 days before his sublime disappearance from this world. That is why it is so dangerous and risky to assume the position of spiritual authority, manager or leader etc. One has to be quite careful especially about avoiding envy towards devotees at all costs. Shrila Bhishma and Lord Krishna both arranged it like this to show to us the severe effects of even unwillingly partiicpating in Vaishnava aparadha. Lord Krishna wanted to use His pure devotee as an example to instruct us about this important truth.

In regards to the second question, Shrila Bhishma had one specific desire which was to leave his body in the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna. He had come in this world much before Lord Krishna so he did not want stay after Lord Krishna disappeared. So Lord Krishna arranged for him to be killed by His other pure devotee Shrila Arjuna, so that this desire of Shrila Bhishma could be fulfilled. Thus by this pastime, He was not only protecting Shrila Arjuna but also fulfilling the most intimate desire of His pure devotee Shrila Bhishmadeva.

Lord Balarama accepted Duryodhana as his disciple, to show to the world that even if a person will accept Him or accept a Guru but if that person will not accept His Master Lord Krishna and Lord Krishna's pure devotees, then such a person will perish with great suffering. So there should be full faith on both the rails of the Bhakti track, Guru and Gauranga.

All the points in Srinath's reply are also quite relevant and nice. Thank you.

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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