21 Important Life Lessons Which Is Believed To Be Given By Bhishma Pitamah From Death Bed

In one of the major epics of ancient India, Mahabharat, Bhishma Pitamah, the son of Kuru King Shantanu and goddess Ganga, gives some profoundly important lessons to learn from life. These learning are not only based on one’s own experience but are also preaching of a great mind. Bhishma, lying on his death bed of arrows during the great battle of Kurukshetra, chose to die at a later and more auspicious time as he had been blessed with a control over his death (icha mrityu) by his father.

During the time that he waited for the sun to move from the south to the north direction which was considered to be an auspicious time for death, he lay there imparting some valuable lessons of life to Yudhishthir and others surrounding him.

Here are some of his preaching which mighty Bhisma gave while lying on his deathbed:

1. All human beings should have nine qualifications, and these are:

i. To be simple.
ii. To be hygienic where the body is concerned and pure where the mind is concerned.
iii. Be true, to yourself and others too and never to lie.
iv. Be peaceful, never to let anger take over you.
v. Be forgiving.
vi. To beget children only by one’s legitimate wife.
vii. Not to be pernicious.
viii Always distributing wealth equally.
ix. Be supportive of servants and subordinates.

2. Learn to forgive

One can only be free from anger is one learns how to forgive. Forgiveness is essential in attaining peace.

3. Work completion

All work should always be completed and no task should be left unfinished. Incomplete work is a sign of negativity.

4. Stay away from people who posses these qualities :

i. Aggressiveness: As they can turn anything negative and heat up a peaceful environment. There can never be peace around anyone who is aggressive.
ii. Lazines : This is a sign of negativity and such people cannot be relied upon. They not only decline helping others, they even cannot help themselves most of the time.
iii. Non believers : Such people only think about themselves as they believe that nothing more exists which is bigger than them.
iv. Odiousness and Viciousness: These people usually are hateful and jealous. They are clever to the extent that they only want to achieve gain for themselves by manipulating others. Such people only spread negativity and hatred.

5. Don’t get too much attached

Change is a constant in life, not only things but people change as well. In the journey of life, people will come and they will leave as they are destined to. Hence, one must not get too attached to anyone.

6. Life should be embraced always

A life has innumerable stages and one must accept all those stages happily in order to stay calm and peaceful and also to survive and stay positive. In happiness or sorrow, in times of birth or death, in illness or good health, one must be willing to accept heartily all that the life has to offer.

7. Dharma comes first

One must always complete what his task (dharma) is. He should do what he has to, and put his work (responsibility) before all other things.

8. Four types of friends

To experience everything in life and to learn from it, one must have these four types of friends – natural friends, friends with a common purpose, family friends and fake friends.

9. Work hard

Always strive hard to work for betterment of not just one’s own self but one’s family as well. Work hard and save money to secure a better future.

10. Protect all

A man should always try to protect his family, nation, treasury, weapons, friends and city that he lives in.

11. Be compassionate

One of the biggest forms of dharmas is being compassionate about life, humans, emotions, sufferers and all living beings. One should always try to help them and save them from any kind of trouble.

12. Be alert

One should have friends around, but should always stay alert as anyone can be back-stabbed, and good people are more vulnerable to it.

13. Be cautious about money

A man should always take care of his money (treasury) and never disclose its location or value to anyone as that can prove to be a trouble for his own life.

14. Should possess both sides

One should try to be both, be hard when the times demand for it and be soft according to a situation.

15. Do not have expectations

The more expectations you have from others, the more disappointed you will be. Therefore, in order to stay content and peaceful, one should have no expectations from anyone.

16. Avoid hurting somebody

Not just physically, but emotionally as well. A heart once broken can never be mended. Therefore, it is important to be wise enough to not break someone’s heart or cause a mental hurt.

17. Be tolerant

Only through tolerance can one conquer desires and greediness.

18. Healthy diet

Always maintain a healthy diet in order to stay away from diseases.

19. Practice yoga

With the help of yoga, one can not only stay fit but can control hunger as well.

20. Keep gaining knowledge

One can achieve perfect knowledge by self cultivating.

21. Get mastery

With the help of prowess, one can avoid fearfulness.

These were the powerful words of wisdom which is believed to be given by Bhishma Pitamah to Yudhisthir while lying on his death bed. They are helpful in today’s world as well as there dearth of inner peace and happiness. If one lives his life following these golden rules, he will not only make his life simpler and happier, but have a great impact on others’ lives as well.