Analysis of Icchā Maraṇa: Self-willed Death in Mahābhārata—Transcending the Contemporary Debate

Journal of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research 40 (3):323-336 (2023)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The present paper explores and analyzes one intriguing form of death called self-willed death (Icchā maraṇa) as depicted in Mahābhārata in light of the contemporary debate between Bruce Sullivan and Phillip Ernest about the distinction between yogayukta and non-yogayukta forms of it. In the first part, the paper presents Sullivan’s distinction between yogayukta, one with disenchantment, world-weariness, and detachment with that of non-yogayukta, the one attached to glory, honor, and power which is contested by Ernest. While taking the debate further, the paper argues that proper understanding of the concept of Icchā maraṇa requires a deeper analysis of the distinction between ‘will’ and ‘self-will’ and adequate study of the conception of life and death that the epic depicts. After taking up these two tasks in the second and third parts, the fourth section assesses the debate in light of the above two sections analysis. It argues that ‘self-will’ is an expression of freedom where the individual prescribes conditions, unlike the ordinary ‘will’ where choice is between available alternatives. This distinction leads us to the death of Bhīṣma, which is Icchā maraṇa in its presented form that moves beyond the distinction available in the debate between Sullivan and Ernest.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 99,362

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Analytics

Added to PP
2023-10-26

Downloads
28 (#670,726)

6 months
12 (#218,655)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Balaganapathi Devarakonda
University of Delhi

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references