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Core:Dillema of dharma during calamity!
Vaiśampāyana said:
Then Satyavatī, afflicted, pitiable, and longing for a son, performed the funeral rites of her son along with the two daughters-in-law, O Bhārata.
Having reflected on dharma, the paternal and maternal lineages, the dignified and noble lady spoke to Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma).
In you is established the funeral offering, fame, and progeny of the ever-righteous and illustrious Śantanu of the Kauravas.
Just as heaven is certainly attained by performing auspicious deeds, and life is surely rooted in truth, so is dharma firmly rooted in you.
You know the aspects of dharma, O knower of dharma, both concisely and in detail; you know the various scriptures and the Vedas completely.
I observe your firmness in dharma, and your adherence to family tradition; and your discernment in hardships, like that of Śukra and Aṅgiras.
Therefore, being greatly assured in you, O best among the upholders of dharma, I shall appoint you to a duty; on hearing it, you ought to perform it.
My son, your brother, powerful and very dear to you, went to heaven in youth, O best of men, without having a son.
These are the queens of your brother, the auspicious daughters of the king of Kāśī, endowed with beauty and youth, and desiring a son, O Bhārata.
By my command, O greatly fortunate one, you ought to perform this dharma here — beget offspring through these two for the continuation of our lineage.
Having anointed yourself in the kingdom, O Bhārata, govern; take wives in accordance with dharma, and do not let the forefathers sink (into ruin).
Thus being urged by his mother and friends, the scorcher of foes, that righteous soul gave only a righteous reply.
Undoubtedly, O mother, the supreme dharma has been stated by you; and you truly know my supreme vow regarding offspring.
You also know how it happened for the sake of dowry in your absence, O Satyavatī. I promise you again this truth.
I may abandon the three worlds, or a kingdom among the gods, or even that which is greater than both — but never, in any way, the truth.
Earth might abandon its scent, water its taste, fire its form, and air the quality of touch.
The sun might relinquish its brilliance, the comet its heat; space might give up sound, and the moon its cool-rayed nature.
Indra might abandon valor, Yama might abandon righteousness, but I would never resolve to abandon truth.
Thus addressed by her son of great wealth and brilliance, the mother Satyavatī then spoke to Bhīṣma.
I know your supreme steadfastness in truth, O valiant in truth; if you wished, you could create other worlds by your own brilliance.
I indeed know that what you spoke was the truth, and for my sake. Consider the dharma of emergency, and bear the ancestral burden.
So that your family line and dharma may not be destroyed, and your well-wishers may rejoice — do thus, O scorcher of foes.
Seeing her thus lamenting, pitiable, and longing for a son, and speaking in a way deviating from dharma, Bhīṣma again spoke these words.
O queen, consider the principles of dharma; do not cause all of us to fall into disgrace. For a kṣatriya, deviation from truth is never praised in dharma.
So that Śantanu’s lineage may be unbroken on earth, I shall declare to you that eternal kṣatriya dharma, O queen.
Having heard it, you should accept it along with wise priests skilled in the dharma and purpose of emergencies, having considered the order of the world.
