Yudhishtra blames himself for the loss of life in the Kurukshetra war and goes to Bhishma for advice. Bhishma tells Yudhishtra a story to illustrate our lack of control over some things that happen in life, said Goda Venkateswara Sastrigal, in a discourse.
The six-year-old son of a lady called Gautami is bitten by a snake and dies. A hunter captures the snake and tells Gautami that it deserves to be killed. The snake argues that it is not to be blamed. Gautami says that killing the snake will not bring back her son to life, and that she will not be vengeful. Moreover, punishment can be handed down only by a ruler. So here we have an example of a woman who will not take the law into her own hands! This is an example too of how a woman exercised her will and chose not to do wrong. The boy was destined to die, and that is not something we can change. The god of death, Yama, comes there, and he says that he too is helpless in the matter of taking a life. That is decided by the Supreme One- Lord Mahavishnu.
But there are some cases, where we can make a choice. Where a choice can be made, the consequences of the choice lie with us. So sin or merit will accrue according to the nature of the act. But, when there is a choice, how do we know which is the right decision to take? That is where the Sastras come in with their guidance. So through this story, Bhishma shows Yudishtra that those who died in the Kurukshetra war were destined to die. Yudishtra had no choice but to fight, in view of Duryodhana’s unfairness and wickedness.
