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The Roots of War
 The course of the majestic river of Time is not that easy of comprehension. It creates situations that are rather strange, ironical, testing and challenging. The situations become tougher and make it difficult for us to stick to a principled stance that we took at one time. A person is judged by the way in which he or she encounters the situation and decides the course of action, and the reason and logic that support that decision. That testifies to the person’s mettle and the metal that he or she is made of.
Bhishma was faced with such a situation. Vichitravirya, the younger half-brother of Bhishma died before children were born to him. It was for his sake that Bhishma brought Amba, Ambika and Ambalika and for whose sake he earned the displeasure of Amba who vowed to avenge her agony by killing him. The early death of Vichitravirya made a fiasco of the dreams of both his grandfathers. Shantanu desired remarriage because Bhishma was his only son. He was afraid that the Kuru dynasty would lose its continuity if Devavrata - Bhishma - died without progeny because he had seen the fall of dynasties that depended on a single son, for their propagation. (See:
For the sake of his father) Despite his desires, the Kuru dynasty seemed to come to an end, with Bhishma remaining alive and Vichitravirya, whose birth Shantanu desired, would propagate the dynasty, dying of
kshya roga - tuberculosis. Irony.
On the other hand, the fisherman king - the other grandfather of Vichitravirya - did not agree to the marriage of his foster-daughter Satyavati with Shantanu simply because he wanted only the children born to his daughter to rule. He was afraid that Devavrata might claim a stake in the kingdom. He was not satisfied when Devavrata assured him and vowed to give up all claims to the throne. ‘If not you, your children may do so at a later date. They may quarrel with my grandchildren and take the kingdom away from them by force.’ Devavrata vowed not to marry just for the purpose of the fructification of the desires of his father and to meet the demands of the father of his ‘would be stepmother.’
Time, the great decider, had ordained it otherwise. Both Chitrangada and Vichitravirya, sons of Satyavati, died without progeny. The worst fears of Shantanu had come true. Ironically, Shantanu was indirectly responsible for bringing about this situation, which had left only Bhishma in the lineage remaining; but could not partake in procreation, propagation and continuity of the Kuru dynasty.
 Satyavati was left with no option. She was the guardian angel and guiding factor that remained to see that the earnest desire of her husband is realised and the Kuru dynasty is kept alive, to continue and to grow. It was a difficult situation. She called Bhishma and told him that the perpetuation of the Kuru Vamsa depended entirely on him now and it was his duty to partake in procreation and help its continuity. ‘This is an extremely difficult situation, my son,’ she said. ‘The continuance of the Kuru dynasty depends on you entirely. The fate of the country that would otherwise go kingless and witness the consequent turbulent days due to the scuffles, quarrels and battles for power, depends on you. Beget children by Ambika and Ambalika. The scriptures sanction this course when times are extremely bad and when it is a no go situation. This is such a situation. Listen to me. You have to save the country by giving birth to a king as also save our ancestors who would otherwise be left in hell, with no progeny to take care of the rites. This would not be considered sinful for this is an act done with a purpose behind it and not for pleasure.’
Bhishma smiled. She was the reason for his vow of celibacy. And it is she who is pleading with him to go against the vow. ‘I will not move an inch away from what I had vowed, my mother,’ said he. ‘There may be valid reasons for my violating the vow. I know that the scriptures sanction this and I know that it would not be sinful. But what has already been vowed is more sacred for me than anything else. I have given word to your father that I will not be responsible in any way for the propagation of the Kuru dynasty. I cannot - and will not - go back on it.’
Though he said a firm no to the plea of Satyavati, he stood by her side when she requested Vyasa, her other son, to play that role. He guarded the kingdom when Vichitravirya was young. And, once again, he guarded the kingdom until Dhrthrastra and Pandu were old enough to shoulder the responsibility. That there were no disputes or claims to the throne during this period testifies to the administrative skills of
Bhishma and his honest, sincerity and loyalty.
Hari Krishnan
harikrishnan@vsnl.net
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