THE BHISHMA WAY or THE JATAYU WAY

rpmwu423 dt. 04.08.2021

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 thier responses were poles apart. 

This is a comparitive study between Bhisma and Jatayu.

Both of them, were confronted with character defining asssault situation 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*

Bhisma 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. 

*Bhisma 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*

Bhisma 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*

Bhisma's name and fame went down in the 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 the history, sooner or later. Will we be equated with the bad or the good - is our choice."_*_ 

4) *CULTURE or VULTURE*

Bhisma 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 - Bhisma or Jatayu? _

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

5) *SPOKEN or UNSPOKEN WORDS*

Draupadi begged and pleaded protection from Bhisma because she knew, if someone could protect her, it was only him but still Bhisma 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.

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

Whereas,

Jatayu, even though being 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*

Bhisma was so much confused about his Royal duty that he forgot his higher duty, a moral duty

 

Whereas,

Jatayu was so clear about his moral duty that no other duty was in 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*

Bhisma 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 atleast let us not be a bad one."__ 

8) *RELATIVE or STRANGER*

Another interesting point is that Bhisma 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 heartly connections not just bodily connections."__ 

9) *THE SAINTLY or THE WICKED*

*Both, Bhisma and Jatayu had a few moments to decide what to do*. Life, sometimes puts 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. 

Bhisma's intelligence was clouded and it failed the test of life because he was associated with the wicked minded, selfish Kauravas,

Whereas,

Jatayu's intelligence was crystal clear and it passed the test of life because he associated himself with the saintly selfless Lakshman and the all-pure Lord Rama and dignity of women. 

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

10) *EMBRACE or NEGLECT*

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

Whereas, 

The Supreme Lord as Ramachandra was so happy & moved with the attitude of Jatayu that he embraced him and personally did his final rites - an honour that even Dasharath - His own 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, Bhisma displeased God whereas, Jatayu pleased Him.

*This recount is not meant to criticize Bhisma*- he is undoubtedly a great warrior and an amazing personality who sacrificed his personal desires for Hastinapur, but *we do impartially critique his inaction*.

The end here is to learn from the choices made, so that we are conscious that 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 Bhisma way" or "the Jatayu way"*

 And, whichever way we choose, remember there will be consequences of our choices...

 *~"the Bhisma result" or "the Jatayu result"._*

 *_Brilliant analysis_ !!*.

(Received on whatsapp, thought good for sharing) 

Regards 

Raghuveer Prasad Meena