Bhishma
by Raja Ravi Varma
Template:IndicText Bhishma is one of the strongest characters of the Mahabharata. He was the grandfather of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. An unparalleled archer, he once vanquished the mighty Parasurama.
Birth
The legend behind Bhishma's birth is as follows — once the eight Vasus ("Ashtavasus") visited Vashishta's ashram accompanied by their wives. One of the wives took a fancy to Nandini, Vashishta's wish-bearing cow and asked her husband Prabhasa to steal it from Vashishta. Prabhasa then stole the cow with the help of the others who were all consequently cursed by Vashishta to be born in the world of men. Upon the Vasus appealing to Vashishta's mercy, the seven Vasus who had assisted in stealing Nandini had their curse mitigated such that they would be liberated from their human birth as soon as they were born; however, Prabhasa being protagonist of the theft, was cursed to endure a longer life on the earth. The curse, however is softened to the extent that he would be one of the most illustrious men of his time. It was this Prabhasa who took birth as Devavratha (Bhishma).
Early life
Bhishma was born as the eldest son of the illustrious King Shantanu by Ganga. As per the Mahabharata, Shantanu saw Ganga on the banks of River Ganga and bewitched by her beauty, asked her to marry him. She agreed but with the condition that Shantanu would never question her, no matter what her actions — if he ever broke his promise, she would leave him, never to be a part of his life again. Shantanu readily agreed to this seemingly harmless condition and was thus married to Ganga. Eight children were born to this union, the eighth of which was Bhishma himself. The seven siblings born before him were drowned by their mother Ganga in order to break their curse — as they were incarnations of the aforementioned Vasus, who do not like to live the life of Humans. Shantanu silently bore the torture of watching his wife drown his offspring seven times. However, when Ganga was about to drown Bhishma, Shantanu could no longer contain his anguish and burst into protest. Ganga, aware of the eighth child's destiny to live a long life on earth, did not drown the child. However, since Shantanu had broken his promise given to her at marriage, she left Shantanu promising to return the child to him once he is grown up.
During his time with his mother, Bhishma learnt political science from Brihaspati, the guru of the Devas, Vedas and Vedangas from Rishi Vasishta, and archery from Parashurama, also known as Bhargava, thus becoming an exceptionally skilled administrator. His banner in battle was a golden palm tree.
He was known as 'Bhishma Pitamaha' (Pitamaha meaning the grandfather or grandsire) among the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Bhishma's vow
Bhishma means He of the terrible oath, referring to his vow of life-long celibacy. Originally named Devratha, he became known as Bhishma after he took the bhishan pratigya ('terrible oath') — the vow of life-long celibacy and of service to whoever sat on the throne of his father (the throne of Hastinapur). He took this oath so that his father, Shantanu could marry a fisherwoman Satyavati — Satyvati's father had refused to give his daughter's hand to Shantanu on the grounds that his daughter's children would never be rulers as Shantanu already had a son in Devratha. This made Shantanu despondent and upon discovering the reason for his father's despondency, Devratha sought out the girl's father and promised him that he would never stake a claim to the throne, implying that the child born to Shantanu and Satyavati would become the ruler after Shantanu. At this, Satyavati's father retorted that even if Devratha gave up his claim to the throne, his (Devratha's) children would still claim the throne. Devratha then took the terrible vow of life-long celibacy, thus sacrificing his 'crown-prince' title and denying himself the pleasures of intercourse. This gave him immediate recognition among the gods and his father granted him the boon of Swachhanda Mrityu (control over his own death — he could choose the time of his death, but he was not immortal). Bhishma also took another vow shortly after the marriage of Shantanu and Satayavati. Bhishma vowed he would see his father's image in whoever sat on the throne of Hastinapur and would serve him without question. This vow ended up being the main cause of his problems later on when his nephew Dhritarashtra took the throne and wished to make his own son, Duryodhana the crown prince instead of Dhritarashtra's brother Pandu's son Yudhishtira who was the elder to Duryodhana (and reckoned by all to be the most worthy to become king). As a result Bhishma was forced to comply with all of Dhritarashtra's orders no matter what injustice was done to the Pandavas.
Bhishma was a great archer and a warrior. In the process of finding a bride for his half-brother the young king Vichitravirya, Bhishma cleverly abducted princesses Amba, Ambika and Ambalika of Kashi (Varanasi) from the assemblage of suitors at their swayamvara. Salwa, the ruler of Saubala, and Amba (the eldest princess) were in love. Upon reaching Hastinapura, Amba confided in Bhishma that she wished to wed Salwa. Bhishma then sent her back to Salwa who turned her down as it was humiliating for a man to accept a woman who had been so long in the company of another man. She then naturally approached Bhishma for marriage who refused her, citing his oath. Amba, humiliated and enraged beyond measure, vowed to avenge herself against Bhishma even if it meant being reborn over and over again.
Legend has it that at her maternal grandfather's suggestion Amba sought refuge with Parasurama who ordered Bhishma to marry Amba. Bhishma politely refused saying that he was ready to give up his life at the command of his teacher but not the promise that he had made. Upon the refusal, Parasurama called him for a fight at Kurukshetra. At the battlegrounds, while Bhishma was on a chariot, Parasurama was on foot. Bhishma requested Parasurama to also take a chariot and armor so that Bhishma would not have an unfair advantage. Parasurama blessed Bhishma with the power of divine vision and asked him to look again. When Bhishma looked at his guru with the divine eye-sight, he saw the Earth as Parasurama's chariot, the four Vedas as the horses, the Upanishads as the reins, Vayu (wind) as the Charioteer and the Vedic goddesses Gayatri, Savitri & Saraswati as the armor. Bhishma got down from the chariot and sought the blessings of Parasurama to protect his dharma, along with the permission to battle against his teacher. Parasurama was pleased and said to Bhishma that if he had not behaved in this manner, Parasurama would have cursed him, for it is the duty of warriors who fight against elders to not abandon the traditions of humility and respect for elders. Parasurama blessed him and advised him to protect his dharma of brahmacharya as Parasurama himself must fight to fulfil his dharma of fighting to uphold his word as given to Amba. They fought for 23 days without conclusion — Parasurama was chiranjeevi (immortal) and Bhishma had a boon that let him choose the time of his death. Two versions exist about how their battle came to and end.
As per one, On the 22nd night, Bhishma prayed to his ancestors to help him end the battle. His ancestors gave him a weapon which was not known to Parasurama. They told him that it would put Parasurama to sleep in the battlefield. A person who sleeps in the battlefield is considered to be dead as per Vedas. They advised Bhishma to call back the weapon at the end of day after sunset so that Parasurama will come back to his sense and that shall bring the end to war. However the weapon was never used as Bhishma walked out of the war.
As per the other version, on the 23rd day, Bhishma summoned the infallible celestial weapon(astra) Prashvapastra, the method of using which was known to him and him alone. Neither did a counter-attack exist, nor was a defense against it known to Parasurama. As Bhishma mounted the astra on his bow, a divine voice (ākāshavānī) implored Bhishma not to fire the weapon as its use would lead to the humiliation of Bhishma's guru(Parasurama himself). Bhishma refrained from using the weapon that would have brought him certain victory. Upon witnessing this, Parasurama was overcome with adulation for his disciple and proclaimed Bhishma as the victor.
Parasurama thus told Amba that he could not win over Bhishma and gave her the boon of "mahakal shiva". Amba did penance to please Lord Shiva. Shiva gave her the boon that she would be instrumental in the death of Bhishma. Amba would later be reborn as the eunuch prince Shikhandiin the household of king Drupada.
Personality
Bhishma had a stature and personality that in those times were fit for kings. He was a true Kshatriya as well as a disciplined ascetic - a rare combination. He never unnecessarily exhibited the passion and anger that were identified with a Kshatriya. A symbol of truth and duty, the benevolent Bhishma was in all senses a true human.
It is unfortunate that a person as noble as Bhishma saw a life full of loneliness, frustration and grief. But that was how Vashishta's curse was supposed to unfold. Bhishma's human birth was destined to be marked with suffering, and that was how his life transpired right till the last moment; even his death was very painful. But the strong as steel character which he possessed ensured that he never shied away from his duty, and never stopped loving those dear to him.
Skills, Talents & Achievements
Bhishma was not only a good warrior, but also highly skilled in political science. He tried his best to bring reconciliation between Pandavas and Kauravas to prevent the war. Even in the Kurukshetra war while he was the general he tried his best to keep the war low key by minimising confrontation between the two camps. Even as he fell he tried to use the opportunity to persuade both camps to put an end to the war. After the war, while on his deathbed he gave deep and meaningful instructions to Yudhishthira on statesmanship and the duties of a king.
In the Mahābhārata War
Bhishma is the one who witnessed the Mahābhārata completely from the beginning since the rule of Shantanu.
In the great battle at Kurukshetra, Bhishma fought reluctantly on the side of the Kauravas; nevertheless, he gave it his best effort. At one stage Arjuna's disinclination to fight him, made Krishna break His vow of not arming himself in the war. Krishna charged at Bhishma to kill him with his Sudarshan Chakra and was welcomed with folded hands by Bhishma. Arjuna pleaded with Krishna to stop and reminded him of the vow. Not even Arjuna was able to defeat Bhishma because in addition to being a peerless warrior he was blessed with choosing the moment of his death. He had also vowed to not to kill any of the Pandavas, as he loved them, being their grandsire. Duryodhan often confronted Bhishma alleging that he was not actually fighting for the Kaurava camp as he wouldn't kill any Pandava but would let them kill Kauravas. But in fact, Bhishma was the strongest barrier that had protected the Kaurava camp from impending defeat. As the Pandavas mulled over this situation, Krishna advised them to visit Bhishma himself and request him to suggest a way out of this stalemate. Bhishma knew in his heart that the Pandavas were righteous and chaste, and that he stood as the greatest obstacle in their path to victory, so when they visited Bhishma, he told them that if faced by a woman in battle he would cease to fight and not lift weapons against her. The Pandavas were initially not agreeable to such a ploy, as by bringing a woman to the battleground they would disgrace themselves, but Krishna suggested a clever alternative. And thus, on the next day - the tenth day of battle - Shikhandi accompanied Arjuna on the latter's chariot and they faced Bhishma who put his bow and arrows down. He was then felled in battle by a reluctant, ashamed and tearful Arjuna in a manner unprecedented and never to be seen again - pierced by innumerable arrows shot one after the other with such force that they lodged in his body, protruding out of his back. It was Bhishma's nemesis Amba who was reborn as the eunuch prince Shikhandi, who was technically also a woman - if only half - and raising weapons against a woman was deemed unworthy of the chivalrous. Thus, the great warrior did not offer any resistance but merely remarked to Dushasana who stood close by, "These are certainly Arjuna's arrows, they cannot be Shikhandi's because they tear my flesh as a crab's young tear their mother's body". He was the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces for ten days compared to Drona's five, Karna's two and Salya's one-the last day. As Bhishma fell, his whole body was held above the ground by the shafts of Arjuna's arrows which protruded from his back, and through his arms and legs. Seeing Bhishma laid on such a bed of arrows humbled even the gods who watched from the heavens in reverence, silently blessing the mighty warrior.
Bhishma was succeeded by Drona as the Commander-in-Chief, and when Drona was slain, Karna replaced him. Karna had been refused a place by Bhishma in the army under his command, and severely criticised for actions and behaviour unbecoming of an honourable warrior. So upon his appointment as the army's commander after Drona's death, Karna approached the grandsire to seek his blessings. Bhishma implored Karna to persuade Duryodhana to end the carnage that had already resulted in much fratricide. Bhishma also disclosed to Karna, the real reason behind disallowing Karna to fight under his command, that he had always known Karna was the eldest son of Kunti, and eldest brother of the Pandavas unknown even to them. Karna politely refused to go against Duryodhana's wishes, insisting that the debt of Duryodhana's benevolence could not be paid unless he remained loyal to him, even in the face of death. He nevertheless received the grandsire's kindest regard and blessings. Bhishma lay on the 'bed of arrows' till the end of the battle, bound by his vows and chose to die only after learning that the Pandavas had won, as he was now assured that the throne and kingdom of Hastinapura was in safe and responsible hands. In his last days before he ascended to heaven, he recited to Yudhisthira the famous hymn, Vishnu sahasranama in praise of Krishna after the war, where Krishna or Vishnu is also called 'Rama', among other names of Vishnu, avatars of Vishnu .[1].
From the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
Death
It is believed that Bhishma died after the age of 350 years. Considering that he was a true Yogi and lived a chaste, desciplined and honourable life, this age is not unbelievable. The relation between Bhishma and Pandavas/Kauravas is described as that of a grandsire.
Although their descendence was in the following generations
Maharaj HASTIN (founder or the Great HASTINAPUR empire) -> (many generations) -> Shantanu -> Bheeshma, Chitrangada, Vichitraveerya -> Dhritarashtra & Pandu -> Pandavas & Kauravas
but practically, Bhishma and the Pandavas would be 4 generations apart as Bhishma was himself a prince of marriagable age when his father Shantanu married Satyavati, so Chitrangad and Vichitravirya were more like sons than brothers to Bhishma. When both Chitrangad and Vichitravirva died heirless, Maharshi Ved Vyas was called upon to revive the lineage. Then Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura were born. The Pandavas and Kauravas were the next generation, so although addressed as grandfather, Bhishma was equivalent to their Great-Grandfather.
When Bhishma died, he was the eldest living ancestor to the equivalent of 5 generations as the Pandavas themselves were grandparents. Their only living heir was Parikshita, Arjuna's grandson, the son of Abhimanyu and Matsya princess Uttara.
Passing Away of Bhishma
Bheesma was a great warrior and a wonderful personality. As Kauravas were losing the battle,Duryodhana approached Bheesma one night and told him that you are not fighting the battle to your full strength because you have affection for the Pandavas.Bheesma became very angry and immediately he picked up five arrows and chanted the mantras and told that tomorrow i will kill the Pandavas with these five arrows.Duryodhana was not having faith in Bheesma's word's and he asked Bheesma that i will keep these five arrows with me and will give you tomorrow morning.
Long back when Pandavas were in living in the forest Duryodhana once came to the forest showing his egoistic attitude towards the Pandavas.He placed his camp on the opposite side of a pond where the Pandavas used to stay. Once while he was taking bath in that pond there the heavenly princes named Gandharvas came to take bath.
Duryodhana could not tolerate this and he had a fight in which the Gandharvas captured him. On the request of Yudhisthir, Arjuna saved Duryodhana and set him free.Duryodhana was ashamed but being a kshatriya he asked Arjuna for a benediction and Arjuna told that I will ask when I will need it.
It was during that night that Krishna reminded Arjuna and told him to go to Duryodhana and ask the five arrows.When Arjuna comes and asks for the five arrows Duryodhana was shocked and he says that i will give you the five arrows but can you tell me who told you about this and Arjuna smilingly replied that who else other than Shri Krishna would advice me.
Duryodhana again goes to Bheesma and this time Bheesma tells that tomorrow “Either i will kill Arjuna or i will make Lord Krishna break his promise of not picking up any weapons during the war". On the next day there is an intense battle between Bheesma and Arjuna. Although Arjuna was very powerful, but he was no match to Bheesma. Bheesma soon shot arrows which cut his Armour and then also his Gandiva bow. Arjuna was helpless.
As Bheesma was about to kill Arjuna with his arrows Lord Krishna could not tolerate his devotees plea and He immediately lifted the chariot wheel and advanced towards Bheesma. Arjuna tried to stopped Lord Krishna but the Lord says that in order to protect my devotee I must break my own promise. Then the Lord tells Arjuna to shoot arrows at Bheesma and finally Arjuna pierces the body of Bheesmadev with his arrows.
There is another version of Bheesma's death, which is more popular and widely accepted. Bheesma does not use his weapons in the presence of women, out of respect for them. He considers Shikandi as a woman, because he was by birth. Lord Krishna exploits this. During the battle, Lord Krishna places Shikandi in Bheesma's presence. Seeing him, Bheesma drops his weapons. Arjuna uses this opportunity and kills him.
Source(s):Srimad Bhagavatam 1st Canto Chapter 9, slokas 1 - 49 by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
References
- ^ Hrishikesa: Krishna-A Natural Evolution T. V. Gopal, A. Balasubrahmanian (2000) p. 101
