How Debabrata becomes Bhishma
How Debabrata Becomes Bhishma is an interesting and sad story of a great warrior. But before knowing about the actual story , learn an interesting fact about the Mahabharata.
It is said that when Maharshi Vedavyasa decided to write Mahabharata, he was looking for a writer. After considering several conditions, he chose Lord Ganesha as his writer. But Lord Ganesha agreed to be his writer applying one condition. Lord Ganesha’s condition was that Maharshi could not stop him writing anytime while narrating Mahabharata. Maharshi agreed to his condition and started their work. Can you imagine the whole Mahabharata was written at stretch ?
However, in the previous episode we have learnt about the toxic relationship between Maharaja Shantanu and Satyavati. Now we will see the consequence of this toxic relationship.
After his coronation Debabrata notices the fact that his father is always in a sad mood. Shantanu is not happy for any reason. Wise Debabrata finds out the reason for his father’s sadness.
Debabrata’s action teaches us the duty, love and respect towards our parents. But unfortunately, we always take from our parents and never try to find out their cause of sadness. But we should do it.
Debabrata goes to Satyavati and comes to know about the reason for Satyavati’s refusal to Shantanu.
Debabrata knows that his father’s happiness will be restored only by bringing back Satyavati to his father. So he takes an unimaginable oath before Satyavati. He vows not to marry for whole life and he will ensure everything,so that Satyavati’s son becomes king of Hastinapur. Not only that he will protect the kingship of Hastinapur for whole life.
What a paradox, a son sacrifices his life only for his father’s happiness. This is not an usual thing.
Noticing his firm determination Maharaja Shantanu gives him a boon to die as per his wish and confers him the title “Bhishma”.
This is how Debabrata becomes Bhishma.
The story of the Mahabharata is evolved around only for Debabrata’s oath. Debabrata is the pivotal character of this great epic. Debabrata’s mental strength is beyond our imagination.
Next, we will see how an uneducated mother can spoil her child and get nothing but sadness in future.
Story of Vichitravirya
We generally find a full social structure in a timeless epic. Mahabharata is not an exception. It reveals not only the full structure of the Indian society but also its customs, moral values, culture etc. So, studying Mahabharata also refers to knowing your roots in a better way.
We came to know about Debabrata’s oath for the sake of his father’s love and luster. Debabrata becomes Bhishma because of Shantanu’s boon.
Now, scenario changes to a situation where we see that Maharaja Shantanu has been died leaving a son ‘Vichitravirya”
Now, we will study ” How an uneducated mother’s blind love spoils her son’s future.”
After Maharaja Shantanu’s departure Bhishma becomes the royal guardian of Hastinapur and Satyavati becomes widow Rajmata.
As Bhishma vows not to become the king, Vichitravirya is now the only successor of the royal throne of Hastinapur.
Vichitravirya is merely a young boy and his misbehaviours are always protected by her mother Satyavati.
We find a situation when Vichitravirya set fire on the crops of Panchal state. The Panchals arrest him for trial. But Bhishma has to save his brother from Panchal.
Bhishma realises that Vichitrabirya is becoming alcoholic. So, he starts to train the future king of Hastinapur on his own way. Normally the training was not easy.
Bheeshma says,” Normally a hard and a cruel mentality stays in a soft body. Vichitravirya needs to be physically strong to have a flexible mind. A flexible mind is necessary for ruling a kingdom.”
But whenever Bheeshma tries to teach Vichitravirya something, his mother Satyavati blames Bhishma for being rude towards Vichitravirya.
Satyavati’s approach towards her son is not appropriate. A mother is the first teacher to her child. A mother is better than 100 teachers. But, it is Satyavati’s uneducated and blind mentality that is spoiling her son’s future.
That’s why Satyavati suggests Vichitravirya’s wedding. But is this a right decision?
Acknowledgement – I am grateful to Shyft Family, Brother Manish Verma, My ancestors, Hotstar, Mahabharata books in Bengali and English.