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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Re: Bhishma's death

Nityaananda ! Gauraanga ! Hare Krishna !

Thank you for such wonderful answers Srinath. I have certainly been helped by such wonderful answers but left with some more queries.

I understand that Bhishma was enjoying spiritual bliss, I also understand that devotees of the Lord are ready to undertake any suffering for the Lord even if it is to go to hell. However I am talking from the Lord's point of view. Though the devotees are ready to suffer for the Lord, the Lord never lets His devotees suffer. Still in this case Bhishma suffered so much just before his death. I understand that the Pandavs and Draupati also suffered a lot but that suffering was to bring them much closer to the Lord. When distress comes to bring us closer to the Lord then it is certainly good but here in this case of Bhishma and Abhimanyu the suffering was just before death. This causes a lot of pain to my heart.

ys,
Mihir.

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Re: Bhishma's death

Nityaananda ! Gauraanga ! Hare Krishna !

Wonderful question dear JagGaura Prabhu. I have also been wondering about this question for a long time. Thank you so much for posting it.

ys,
Mihir.

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Re: Bhishma's death

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna!Dear Guruji, Srinath and devotees. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Sri Nityananda Gauranga.I am not only happy Srinath with your realizations but I am overjoyed. I am so pleased to see your advancement in which the Lord reveals these unique insights to you. It is only the devotee of the Lord that can understand and pen down such insights. It also shows the divine potency of this Sangha and how blessed the devotees are who are gathered here at the feet of Guruji who takes us without delay directly to the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda Who bestows us with the supreme nectar of His association. Your very happy servant,Hadai Nityananda dasaNityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna!

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Re: Bhishma's death

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Dandavats and obeissances.

Good answers Srinath. I agree that Bhisma was only externally feeling pain but was internally feeling topmost bliss, he was just playing the role that the Lord wanted him to play for his time on this planet.
Something else I have thought about here and there is Lord Balarama's favoring of Duryodhana.
Lord Balarama taught Duryodhana how to fight and wanted him and not Arjuna to marry Krishna's sister even though we all know Duryodhana was the greatest offender.

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