A Profound Teaching from the Mahabharata -A Deep Spiritual Discourse on Destiny, Free Will, Death & Responsibility-Part 2

Yudhishthira’s Grief and Bhishma’s Compassion

The great epic Mahabharata is not merely a tale of war and heroism; it is a profound spiritual scripture that explores the deepest questions of life, death, and responsibility. After the devastating Kurukshetra war, Yudhishthira is overwhelmed by sorrow, guilt, and inner conflict. Victory has not brought peace; instead, it has intensified his suffering. To console him, Bhishma, lying on his bed of arrows, narrates a powerful philosophical story—one that penetrates the illusion of blame and reveals the immutable law of karma.

The Story of the Brahmin Child and the Serpent

Bhishma recounts the story of a Brahmin woman whose young son dies after being bitten by a snake.
A hunter captures the serpent and urges the grieving mother to kill it in revenge.

However, the Brahmin woman refuses. Her reasoning is extraordinary:

• The snake is not acting independently.

• Every action unfolds under a larger cosmic order.

• Blind vengeance will not heal sorrow nor reveal truth.

This moment initiates a profound inquiry:
Who is truly responsible for death—God, destiny, time, another being, or one’s own actions?

A Court of Cosmic Forces: Death and Time Appear

As the debate deepens, two powerful forces enter the narrative:

• Yama, the deity of death

• Time, the invisible ruler governing all creation

Yama declares that he merely executes the commands of Time. He does not act out of cruelty or desire. Just as wind carries clouds, death carries beings according to cosmic law. All qualities—sattva, rajas, and tamas—are shaped by Time. Emotions, tendencies, instincts, and even moral inclinations are influenced by the era and environment in which a soul exists.

Mahakal: Time as the Supreme Authority

The discourse reaches a pivotal revelation:
Time itself is governed by Mahakal, the cosmic form of Shiva.

Everything in the universe—

• Sun and Moon

• Fire, Air, Water, and Space

• Gods, humans, animals, and all 84 lakh life forms

—operates within the jurisdiction of Time. No being escapes its rhythm. Creation, preservation, and dissolution occur exactly when Time commands.

The Core Teaching: Karma Alone Is Responsible

After hearing all sides—the serpent, the hunter, Yama, and Time—the conclusion becomes crystal clear: No external force is responsible for the child’s death. The soul experiences results strictly according to its own karma. Blaming God, destiny, other people, or circumstances only strengthens bondage and leads to repeated rebirth. Acceptance of responsibility dissolves sorrow and opens the path to liberation.

Karma in Daily Life: A Mirror, Not a Punishment

The discourse powerfully applies this wisdom to everyday human experience:

• When suffering arises, we search for someone to blame.

• When joy arrives, we rarely question its cause.

Yet karma follows a person as closely as their shadow.
Just as a potter shapes clay into vessels, life shapes experiences according to deeds.

Understanding this transforms life:

• Victimhood dissolves

• Awareness sharpens

• Spiritual maturity awakens

Yudhishthira’s Liberation from Grief

As Bhishma completes his discourse, Yudhishthira’s sorrow fades.
He realizes that:

• The war was not a personal crime

• The fall of the unrighteous was already ordained by karma

• His duty was to uphold dharma, not to carry guilt

This realization restores his inner balance and prepares him to rule with wisdom rather than remorse.

From Philosophy to Practice: Awakening the Soul

The discourse culminates in a call for spiritual awakening:

• Begin self-reflection immediately

• Practice devotion, meditation, and right action

• Do not wait for old age or crisis

Life is uncertain, but conscious action is always available.
Time spares no one, yet it offers repeated opportunities for awakening.

Conclusion: The Path to Paramshanti

This Mahabharata episode delivers a timeless truth: Happiness and sorrow arise from one’s own actions.
Liberation begins when blame ends.When we accept karma as our closest relative, life becomes a spiritual classroom rather than a battlefield. Through awareness, right deeds, and inner stillness, the soul moves toward liberation and universal harmony In this realization, Paramshanti—supreme peace—naturally unfolds, spreading within the individual and radiating outward to the world.