Those who have read the Mahabharata know that Bheesham Pitamah is one of the most interesting characters of this story. He is unbeatable and the strongest person of the Mahabharata, whom even Arjun, with all help from Sri Krishna, could not kill or defeat. The legendary and all-powerful Parshuram, who destroyed Kshatryas 21 times from Earth and who was unbeatable and was even an Avtar of Vishnu, and was the teacher of the Pitamah, could not beat him and lost the battle to him. Then, finally, when he was killed, it was because of a trick that Sri Krishna played, as a result of which, he dropped his weapons. In this state of being weaponless, Arjun, at the behest of Sri Krishna, killed him. It was a morally wrong thing to do, but without Martyring Bheesham Pitamah, winning the war for Pandavs was impossible. It’s through such treacherous acts that this war was won.
In any case, while doing Vichaar on Bhatt Savaie, an amazing Pankiti came in front of the eyes:
ਸੋਈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਗੰਗੇਵ ਪਿਤਾਮਹ ਚਰਣ ਚਿਤ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਰਸਿਆ ॥
Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee has done the following Vichaar on this Pankiti:
Original Text: ਸੋਈ ਨਾਮ (ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨਾਮ) ਸਿਮਰ ਕੇ ਗੰਗਾ ਜਾਇਆ ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਪਿਤਾਮਾ ਦਾ ਚਿਤ ਭੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਮਰਦਾਸ ਦੇ ਚਰਨੀਂ ਲਗ ਕੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਰਸਿਆ ਹੋਇ ਗਇਆ। … ਤਿਸ ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਪਿਤਾਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਗਤੀ (ਕਲਿਆਣ) ਭੀ ਤਦ ਹੋਈ ਜਦੋਂ ਇਹ ਕਲਜੁਗ ਵਿਚ ਜਨਮ ਧਾਰ ਕੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਨੀ ਆਇਆ ਤੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੁਆਰਿਓਂ ਤਿਸ (ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਪਿਤਾਮਾ) ਨੇ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨਾਮ ਦੀ ਦੀਖਿਆ ਲਈ। ਹੁਣ ਭੀ ਜਿਹੜੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਦੇ ਸਾਜੇ ਨਿਵਾਜੇ ਨਾਮ ਕਲਾਧਾਰੀ ਪੰਜਾਂ ਪਿਆਰਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਨੀ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਹ ਸੋ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਜਨਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਤਪੀਸਰ ਰਿਖੀਸਰ ਹੀ ਹਨ। ਜੋ ਪਰਬਲ ਸੰਜੋਗਾਂ ਕਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਬਣਦੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਨਾਮ ਦੀ ਪਾਤਰਤਾ ਦੇ ਭੀ ਭਾਗੀ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
Loose Translation: By doing Simran (chanting) of that Naam (Gurmat Naam) and through Charans (Lotus Feet) of Guru Nanak Amardaas, the son of Ganga – Bheesham Pitamah’s mind got drenched with Amrit. Salvation of that Bheesham Pitamah occurred in this Kalyug only when he took birth and came to the refuge of Sri Guru Nanak Dev jee and from the door of Guru Nanak, he received the initiation of Gurmat Naam. Even today, all those who are coming to the refuge of authentic Naam Abhyaasi Punj Pyare of Guru Nanak Dasmesh are great sages of previous lives. They become candidates of Amrit and Naam due to their previous good Karma (sanjogs).
Gurmat Vichaar: Two things are very clear from this passage of Bhai Sahib jee. Firstly, Bheesham Pitamah had to take birth as a Sikh and receive Naam Amrit in order to get salvation. We don’t know which Sikh of Guru Sahib was Bheesham Pitamah, but one thing is for sure that he was born and got salvation prior to the period of Siri Guru Arjun Dev jee because by the time Bhatt Baani was manifested in this world, he had already got salvation through Guru Sahib. Most likely, he got salvation through Siri Guru Amardaas jee because this Pankiti appears in the Savaie of the third Mahalla.
Second interesting concept that comes out of Bhai Sahib jee’s passage is that even today, ones who are coming to the refuge of Naam Abhyaasi Punj Pyare are great holy souls of ancient times. It’s not as if someone was a dog in his previous life and all of a sudden he becomes a Sikh in this life. Only great souls of previous times come to the house of Guru Nanak Dev Jee to get salvation.
This also proves that no matter how high one rises within different religions and sects, salvation is possible only when one meets Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee and follows Gurmat of Guru Sahib. There is no other way. If salvation had been possible without Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee, then there was no point in the Avtaar of Guru Sahib.
Written By: Bhai Kulbir Singh Ji