No two people react 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.
One has been elevated but the other only recognised. It's in 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 and capable 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. Still,
he chose to try his best to protect Sita - the Queen.
Bhishma was powerful yet acted powerless where 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 conscience - better 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.
"Many of us are 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 and 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.
"One doesn't become a human by being born as a human - only becomes a human 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.
"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 heartly 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 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 as 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;
Whereas, The Supreme Lord Rama 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 criticise Bhishma - he is undoubtedly a great personality but we do vehemently criticise his inaction.
Moral.
When we see some injustice, some problem, we have two options:-
Either close your eyes to it or do something about it - follow "the Bhishma way" or "the Jatayu way".
Whichever way we choose remember there will also be a result - "the Bhishma result" or "the Jatayu result".
Tailpiece.
It was a rather quiet day. Lekha had gone to the Mammiyoor kshetram as part of her weekly tryst while I went across to the Amigos for my monthly haircut!
Here are examples of two legendary personalities who were faced with a very similar situation but their responses were diagonally apart.
One has been elevated but the other only recognised. It's in 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 and capable 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. Still,
he chose to try his best to protect Sita - the Queen.
Bhishma was powerful yet acted powerless where 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 conscience - better 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.
"Many of us are 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 and 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.
"One doesn't become a human by being born as a human - only becomes a human 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.
"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 heartly 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 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 as 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;
Whereas, The Supreme Lord Rama 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 criticise Bhishma - he is undoubtedly a great personality but we do vehemently criticise his inaction.
Moral.
When we see some injustice, some problem, we have two options:-
Either close your eyes to it or do something about it - follow "the Bhishma way" or "the Jatayu way".
Whichever way we choose remember there will also be a result - "the Bhishma result" or "the Jatayu result".
Tailpiece.
It was a rather quiet day. Lekha had gone to the Mammiyoor kshetram as part of her weekly tryst while I went across to the Amigos for my monthly haircut!
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