Hare Krishna Gurudev

PAMHO

AGTSP

AGToYou

Gurudev, a question arose for me regarding one of your posts on Anvesaka.

Bhismadeva's situation is difficult to understand. He is a pure devotee, in fact he is one of the 12 mahājanas:

"svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ

kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ

prahlādo janako bhīṣmo

balir vaiyāsakir vayam

dvādaśaite vijānīmo

dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ bhaṭāḥ

guhyaṁ viśuddhaṁ durbodhaṁ

yaṁ jñātvāmṛtam aśnute"

ŚB 6.3.20-21

He (Bhisma), truly knows the religious principles. Know the Dharma (both material Sva-dharma and Bhagavata-dharma...). However, he fought for the wrong side, the impious sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, out of loyalty to the Kuru dynasty and the kingdom of Hastinapura (as I understand it...).

Although the kingdom of Hastinapura was full of adharma, he remained there. He even said nothing when they tried to strip Draupadī naked (I heard Krsna told him not to say anything...) and then he fought against his beloved pious grandsons, the Pandavas.

I have some questions, these are for understanding the pure devotee, Bhishma:

Why didn't he leave the kingdom and thus avoid participating in the conflict?

Why didn't Bhishma leave the vicious assembly, where they tried to strip Draupadi naked, and go on pilgrimage (as Vidura did, for example, when he was insulted)?

Did Bhishmadeva fight "from within" to correct the sins being committed in the kingdom of Hastinapura?

And a question arises, drawing a parallel with ISKCON...

What attitude should we adopt in the future if the institution doesn't faithfully follow the guidelines established by the Acharya?

Well Gurudev, these are the questions that come to mind right now...

Thank you very much, Gurudev. Pamho. AgtSP

HpS - This is an entire symposium. 🙂

Relevant Chapter and specific verse:

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/9/12/

Thank you.