Bhishma: The Exercise and Abuse of Power in Iravati Karve’s Yuganta

In Yuganta: The End of an Epoch, Iravati Karve provides a humanistic and sociological reinterpretation of the characters of the Mahabharata. Among them, Bhishma, the grand patriarch of the Kuru dynasty, is presented as a deeply tragic figure. Karve critiques not only his rigid sense of duty but also the manner in which his authority and power were both exercised and abused, often to the detriment of society and justice.

Bhishma’s Power and Authority

Bhishma held unparalleled power in the Kuru dynasty. As the grandsire, commander-in-chief, and custodian of tradition, his word carried immense weight. He was respected by all for his personal sacrifice—renouncing marriage and kingship for the sake of his father. His celibacy and loyalty became legendary. Yet Karve points out that this very sacrifice, while noble on the surface, bound him to vows so rigid that they made him ineffective in moments that demanded flexibility and compassion.

Failure of Moral Leadership

Karve emphasizes that Bhishma misused his moral authority by remaining silent in times of crisis. For instance, during the infamous dice game where Draupadi was humiliated in the Kaurava court, Bhishma did not intervene decisively. Though he knew that dharma was being violated, his attachment to his vow of loyalty to the throne prevented him from acting. This inaction, Karve suggests, was an abuse of his moral power, because silence in the face of injustice is as damaging as active wrongdoing.

Power Without Responsibility

One of Karve’s strongest critiques is that Bhishma’s immense power lacked effective responsibility. He had the authority to guide Duryodhana away from reckless pride, to prevent the conflict between the cousins, or to assert dharma during Draupadi’s insult. Yet, he chose to remain bound by his duty to the throne, even when the throne was occupied by morally weak rulers like Dhritarashtra. Thus, Bhishma’s exercise of power became self-serving loyalty to vows, rather than genuine responsibility toward justice and society.

Rigid Adherence to Vows

Karve portrays Bhishma as a man enslaved by his own vows. His celebrated celibacy and lifelong service to the Kuru throne, instead of being virtues, became chains that restricted him from acting freely. This rigidity reflects an abuse of personal power, because it allowed injustice to flourish while he remained trapped in formal obligations. In Karve’s reading, true power should be exercised with flexibility and humanity, not blind adherence to rules.

The Tragedy of Bhishma

Bhishma’s tragedy, according to Karve, lies in the gap between his reputation and his actions. He was revered as a symbol of wisdom and dharma, yet in crucial moments, he failed to use his authority to protect the weak or to prevent war. By exercising power passively and misusing his authority through silence, he became indirectly responsible for the destruction of the Kuru dynasty. Karve thus critiques him as a figure whose greatness was undermined by his inability to rise above his vows.

Conclusion

In Yuganta, Iravati Karve critiques Bhishma not simply as a noble elder but as a leader who abused his power by failing to exercise it rightly. His silence during Draupadi’s humiliation, his loyalty to corrupt rulers, and his rigid adherence to vows demonstrate the misuse of authority in the name of duty. Bhishma’s example shows how power, when not directed toward justice, becomes destructive. Karve’s analysis turns him from a heroic patriarch into a tragic reminder of how excessive loyalty to tradition can lead to moral failure and social collapse.