Why did Kamsa get liberation, but Bhishma did not?

[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on December 27, 2020, in which several devotees participated. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[Smt. Sudha Rani asked: In the Bhāgavatam, it is said that Kaṃsa got mokṣa, but Bhīṣma Pitāmaha did not get mokṣa, even though he chanted the Viṣṇu Sahasranāmam while he was dying? Why is it so, Swami?]

Swāmi replied: Kaṃsa did not have a spiritual background like Hiraṇyākṣa & Hiraṇyakaśipu, Rāvaṇa & Kumbhakarṇa and Śiśupāla & Dantavaktra. Three pairs of demons were three successive births of two divine servants of God Viṣṇu named Jaya and Vijaya. They had taken those three births together by the will of God. Hence, after their death, they got salvation. Bhīṣma is far far better than Kaṃsa. Bhīṣma did only one mistake, whereas, Kamsa did not even do a single good deed. Bhīṣma went to the upper worlds and not to the lower worlds like Kaṃsa. Bhīṣma is mentioned in the list of great devotees of God. The salvation day of Bhīṣma is Bhīṣma Ekādaśī, which is celebrated by devotees every year. When Krishna broke His promise by lifting the chariot-wheel to kill Bhīṣma, Bhīṣma understood that supporting justice is greater than blindly keeping one’s promise. Then, he told the secret of his own death to Dharmarāja so that the Paṇḍavas could win the war. Bhīṣma rectified his mistake and hence, was given salvation by God Krishna.

Keywords:

| Shri Datta Swami | Why did Kamsa get liberation, but Bhishma did not? | moksa Bhagavatam Bhishma Pitamaha Sahasranamam Hiranyaksa Hiranyakashipu Ravana Kumbhakarna Shishupala Ekadashi

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