Mahabharat MBC1 Monday 12 July – The lesson from Bhishma’s impulsive vow

bhoot — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:52:57 +0000

It was with great pleasure that I sat down to watch Mahabharat last Monday. I had spent my childhood enjoying the actions (flaming arrows etc) of this serial. I said to myself, let’s see if I still see it the same, convinced that I’d find new wisdom… Alas, I was not only disappointed, I was enraged by the picturing of the characters… So this episode must be No 2 or 4, telling about a king under whom India was united. He had a son Bhishma (who will later grow to become one of the best masters of war of his time), who was promised the crown. The king fell in love with a girl, whose father wanted her child to rule instead of Bhishma. The king, rightly bound by his vow, refused his love-at-first-sight. Bhishma came to know about it and negociated with the girl’s father that he would refuse the throne.

And the greedy father went on, seeing that he was at the advantage, asked how Bhishma can stop his own sons from claiming the throne. A most impulsive decision that Bhishma vowed that he would never marry, never beget children. The best part is that instead of everyone blaiming him, or telling him to stop, you are shown videos of demi-gods bowing to him for his great sacrifice…

Sacrifice of the throne for his father’s happiness is virtuous, but vowing not to beget children just for the ‘chance’ that his sons will claim the throne… That simply wasn’t in the agreement, not is it ethical. In a sense, it’s good that he didn’t become king, cause such an impulsive decision might possibly lead to the demise of his kingdom. As an aspiring leader of the great India, if only he had the calmness not to make such grave mistakes…

Now if I had to make this serial… I’d be different.

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Mahabharat MBC1 Monday 12 July – The lesson from Bhishma’s impulsive vow