What is our moral worth? By Lover of Ancient Wisdom

 

*One of the best, perhaps the best read, of late... Don't miss to read, every perception is indeed wonderfully conceived. I reiterate, don't skip to read*


*THE BHISHMA WAY*
                  *or*
*THE JATAYU WAY*

No two people respond to the same situation in a similar way.

Here are examples of two legendary personalities who were faced with a very similar situation, but their responses were diagonally apart.

This is a comparative study between Bhishma and Jatayu.

Both, of them were confronted with character defining assault on womanhood.

One chose to die protecting the victim while the other chose to be a mute spectator of the crime.

1) *POWERFUL or POWERLESS*
Bhishma was a powerful warrior and if he wanted, he could have stopped the disrobing of Draupadi - the Queen but he chose to be a silent witness of this act

whereas

Jatayu was old and invalid and knew that in all probability, Ravana would kill him but still, he chose to try his best to protect Sita - the Queen.

Bhishma was powerful yet acted powerless whereas Jatayu was powerless yet acted powerful.

*"Real power is not about physical strength but about the deep desire to help."*

*2) ALIVE or DEAD*

Bhishma lived on but died everyday to his conscience whereas Jatayu died once but lived eternally true to his conscience.

" *Our only constant companion is our concience - better to be true to it."*

3) *FAME or INFAMY*

Bhishma's name and fame went down in history because of *this one act of not stopping the disrobing of Draupadi* but Jatayu's name and fame went high in history because of his act of trying to save Sita.

" *We are all going to be mere names in history, sooner or later. Will we be equated with the bad or the good - is our choice."*

4) *CULTURE or VULTURE*

Bhishma was supposed to be a highly cultured human but acted highly insensitive & stooped low in values like a vulture

whereas

Jatayu was supposed to be a lowly uncultured vulture but acted highly sensitive and soared the skies in values like an evolved human. Who would you call as a human - Bhishma or Jatayu?

*"One doesn't become a human being by being born as a human - one becomes a human being by being a human."*

5) *SPOKEN or UNSPOKEN WORDS*

Draupadi begged and pleaded protection from Bhishma because she knew if someone could protect her it was only him but still Bhishma didn't protect her

whereas

Sita didn't even ask Jatayu for protection - she just wanted him to inform Rama about her kidnapping by Ravana because she knew Jatayu was not powerful but still Jatayu tried to protect Sita.

Bhishma being a human couldn't even understand the spoken words of Draupadi what to speak of understanding her unspoken words

whereas

Jatayu even though was a mere bird, understood not only the spoken words of Sita but also her unspoken words.

*"The language of heart is more powerful than the language of words."*

6) *CLARITY or CONFUSION*

Bhishma was confused regarding his Royal duty that he forgot that he had a higher duty - a moral duty

whereas

Jatayu was so clear about his moral duty that no other duty was a consideration for him.

*"When caught up in dilemmas, best is to follow the higher principles - to follow our heart because it always knows the truth."*

7) *GOOD or BAD EXAMPLE*

Bhishma set a very bad precedent for generations to come

whereas

Jatayu set the most ideal precedent for generations to come.

*"If we can't be a great example at least let us not be a bad one."*

8) *RELATIVE or STRANGER*

Another interesting point is that Bhishma was an elderly relative of Draupadi but acted as a total stranger in this episode

whereas

Jatayu was not at all related to Sita, he was a stranger but acted more than a dearest relative.

*"True relationships is based on heartily connections not just bodily connections."*

9) *THE SAINTLY or THE WICKED*

Both, Bhishma and Jatayu had a few moments to decide what to do.

Life, sometimes puts us in situations where in a few moments we need to take crucial decisions.

What we decide very much depends on the kind of inner integrity we have cultivated by the association we keep.

Bhishma's intelligence was clouded and it failed the test of life because he associated with the wicked minded, selfish Kauravas whereas Jatayu's intelligence was crystal clear and it passed the test of life because he associated with the saintly, selfless Lakshman and the All-pure Lord Rama.

*"After all, who we are solely depends on whom we associate with."*

10) *EMBRACE or NEGLECT*

The Supreme Lord  Sri Krishna was not at all happy with this attitude of Bhishma, so much so that when he came as a peace messenger to Hastinapur, he didn't even bother to look at Bhishma, what to speak of respecting him.

whereas

The Supreme Lord,  Ramachandra was so happy with the attitude of Jatayu that he embraced him and personally did his final rites - an honour that even Dasharath - His father didn't receive.

The scriptures explain that the ultimate test of any activity is, if the Supreme Lord is pleased with us. It is very clear, Bhishma displeased God whereas Jatayu pleased Him.

This recount is not meant to criticize Bhishma - he is undoubtedly a great warrior and an amazing personality who sacrificed his personal desires for Hastinapur, but
we do vehemently criticize his inaction. The end here is to learn from the choices made so that we are conscious history follows us.

*When we see some injustice, some problem, we have only two options - either close your eyes to it or do something about it - follow "the Bhishma way" or "the Jatayu way"*

and whichever way we choose, remember there will be consequences of our choices.
*"the Bhishma result" or "the Jatayu result".*

*Brilliant analysis!!*