Bhishma’s message to rulers – Mahabhaarat

The following post has been inspired from the final episode of Mahabhaarat, when the Pandavas have already won the battle and were going to take the blessings of Bhishma who was lying on the bed of arrows breathing his last. Lord Krishna requested Bhishma to advice Yudhistir, the new king, and also share his experience.

This was what Bhishma said:

1. Don’t give priority to your power and position, your citizens and your country are more important.
2. I gave priority to my promises and vows to take care of my family and this led to the destruction of my own country. I did not realize that nothing is greater than our motherland. I eventually became the reason for the division of Hastinapur. Hence Yudhishthir, never take such a vow that will separate you from your country and your duties as a ruler. And if ever you commit the mistake of standing in the way of your country’s welfare, you will end up lying on a bed of arrows, because whenever a Devrath (Bhishma) will stand in the way of a country’s progress, he will have to face an Arjun who will make him lie on a bed of arrows. This is the fundamental element of Rajneeti (politics).
3. Son (Yudhishthir), there is no other priority for a ruler other than the welfare of his country. If ever you found out that there’s such a selfish welfare within you, assume that you have started to get astray from your duties as a ruler.
4. It’s not the country that has to serve the Ruler, it’s the Ruler who is there to serve his country.
5. The ruler who gets himself satisfied by blaming the past for the current social and financial weakness of the country, is never considered a worthy ruler. If the past has given you a weak social and financial situation then strive to improve that situation.
6. The welfare of the society also lies in respecting the woman race. The border of your country is just like the clothes of our mothers and it is our duty to always defend it.
7. Following the request of lord Krishna, Bhishma then defines that Dharma is not a commodity or a ritual, Dharma means to assume the responsibility of our own duties and to bring justice to others by giving them their rights. Therefore always perform your duties accordingly. The same applies to the royal duties, however the responsibility of a ruler is much greater than that of a citizen. If ever there comes a situation which compels the division of your own country, then never hesitate to come in the field and resolve that situation, but never let your country be divided.

1. Do I give priority to my citizens and my country rather than my own position ?
2. Do I really think more about the welfare and progress of the country instead of my family, friends and my own selfish motives?
3. Am I ready to accept the fact that it’s my responsibility to take care of my country and it’s not the country which is at my service. This is also the duty of every citizen of the country.
4. Am I ready to do everything possible to protect my country. I will never let my country be sold at any cost. 
5. Am I ready to improve the current situation of my country even if it has been mismanaged by the previous governing party, I will do every effort to improve that situation and not blame it on others and leave it like that. Even if the previous government has caused a drastic failure in the country’s financial situation, it is my duty to improve it and not contribute to it’s further decline.
6. Do I respect the women in the society? How will I go about to always protect their integrity as well as the integrity of my own country?
7. Am I ready to take the responsibility of my own duties and ensure that each and every citizen is granted justice and am I ready to give them what is their rights? 
8. If ever there’s happens to be any danger falling on my country which can cause division in the society among the citizens, am I ready to come down and make sure that my country is never divided and every one lives in peacefulness?

These are just a few points be it the government, a ruler, the opposition, should take into account before really coming forward and fight for power.

It’s not just in the spiderman movie but it’s the truth: “Greater Power brings along Greater Responsibilities”