An authored article by Niranjan Gidwani – Consultant Director | Board Member SSGMUAE | Member UAE Superbrands Council | HBR Advisory Council | Charter Member TiE Dubai
Choices often shape our destinies and are the touchstones of our moral compasses. This comparative study between Bhishma and Jatayu delves into how their contrasting choices during critical moments in the Mahabharata and Ramayana reflect broader themes of power, conscience, and integrity.
1. Powerful or Powerless: Bhishma, a formidable warrior, chose to be a silent witness during Draupadi’s disrobing, a grave injustice. Despite his power, he remained powerless. Conversely, Jatayu, old and weak, valiantly attempted to protect Sita from Ravana, even though it cost him his life. His powerlessness was transformed into true strength by his unwavering resolve to help. Real power is not about physical strength but about the deep desire to help.
2. Alive or Dead: Bhishma lived on physically but died every day to his conscience. Jatayu, on the other hand, died once but remained eternally true to his conscience, living on in history as a symbol of bravery and integrity. Our only constant companion is our conscience – better to be true to it.
3. Fame or Infamy: Bhishma’s legacy is marred by his inaction during Draupadi’s ordeal, while Jatayu’s fame soared due to his selfless attempt to save Sita. Their stories remind us that our actions determine how history remembers us. Sooner or later, we are all going to be mere names in history. Will we be equated with the bad or the good – the choice is ours.
4. Culture or Vulture: Bhishma, despite his cultured status, stooped to low moral standards by his inaction, resembling a vulture. Jatayu, a vulture by birth, soared to human heights by his noble actions. One doesn’t become a human being by choices or being born as a human – one becomes a human being by being a human.
5. Spoken or Unspoken Words: Draupadi’s pleas fell on Bhishma’s deaf ears, while Jatayu understood Sita’s unspoken distress and acted. This highlights the power of empathy and understanding beyond words choices. The language of the heart is more powerful than the language of words.
6. Clarity or Confusion: Bhishma was entangled in his royal duties, forgetting his higher moral duty. Jatayu, however, had crystal-clear clarity about his moral responsibilities, which guided his actions. 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’s actions set a regrettable precedent, while Jatayu’s selflessness remains an ideal example for generations. If we can’t be a great example, at least, let us not be a bad one.
8. Relative or Stranger: Bhishma, a relative to Draupadi, acted like a stranger, while Jatayu, a stranger to Sita, acted as her closest kin. True relationships are built on empathy and action. True relationships are based on connections of the heart, not just bodily connections.
9. The Saintly or the Wicked: Bhishma’s association with the wicked Kauravas clouded his judgment, while Jatayu’s connection with the virtuous Lord Rama and Lakshman clarified his conscience. After all, who we are solely depends on whom we associate with.
10. Embrace or Neglect: Lord Krishna’s disapproval of Bhishma contrasts sharply with Lord Rama’s embrace of Jatayu, even performing his final rites—a rare honor. The ultimate test of any activity is if the Supreme Lord is pleased with us.
Conclusion: This recount is not meant to criticize Bhishma, a great warrior and an amazing personality, but to highlight the consequences of inaction. When faced with injustice, we have two choices: to act or to remain passive. The choices we make define our legacy—will we follow “the Bhishma way” or “the Jatayu way”? The consequences of our choices will be ours to bear.
