DHINAM ORU KATHAI - 14.

Pithamagar Bheeshmar had a boon that he only would decide his death day. He
could defer his death if there was any threat to his life. When he was shot down in
the Kurukshethra war with a numerous arrows by Arjuna & Sikandi he fell on the
battle field as if lying on a bed of arrows. As a result of his boon his soul did not
depart at once as he wanted to wait until Uttharaayanaa, the bright period of the
celestial world. Another reason for this postponement might be that he wanted to
give a spree of advices to Yuthishtra in order to help in his administration when
crowned as the king of Hasthinapuram in the near future after his triumph over the
Kurukshethra war.
Pandavas after winning the battle went along with Lord Krishna to call on
Pithamagar Bheeshmar who was still lying alive on the field looking forward to
Uttharaayanaa. Bheeshmar blessed the Pandavas and began giving advices to
Yuthishtra. Yuthishtra too had many questions in his mind which he wanted to clarify
through Pithamagar. One of the questions asked by Yuthishtra was this: Which is
greater either effort or destiny (fortune)?
Bheeshmar explains thus: When seeds are sowed on the earth, a sprout develops,
then a sapling, a thick stemmed plant and finally a tree giving out flowers, fruits and
again seeds from the fruits. The yield will be good or bad depending on the seeds
that are sowed are good or bad. But to sow the seeds earth is essential. But for the
earth nothing will work out. The sun and the rain should also be favorable for this
activity. Similarly if a good thing is done it yields a good result when fortune (you
may call it destiny or god) supports. On the other hand if one does a bad thing it
gives a bad outcome since fortune or God does not support it. He calls it a
misfortune or a devil. So whatever is sowed is got back. But effort is essential. But
for the effort no activity will happen and the question of fortune does not arise.
Hence effort is as inevitable as fortune to produce good or bad just like earth is as
important as sun & rain to yield good crops when sowed good seeds.