In the vast tapestry of Indian mythology and epic literature, few characters shine as brightly as Bhishma, the legendary figure from the Mahabharata. His life story is one of unwavering devotion to duty, sacrifice, and the pursuit of righteousness. Born into the illustrious lineage of the Kuru dynasty, Bhishma’s journey traverses the realms of love, loyalty, and ultimately, transcendence. Bhishma is the central character in Mahabharata who witnessed all the events from the beginning since the rule of the Shantanu until the end of Mahabharata war when finally, Yudhishthira became the ruler of Hastinapura. That is witnessing the events of four generations. This article delves into the enigmas surrounding Bhishma’s character and behaviour, exploring the nuances that make him a figure of both reverence and perplexity.
Legend – King Mahabhisa after his death attained Vishnu Loka. Once he went to visit Brahma at Satya Loka. At that time, Gangadevi was also present in Brahma’s assembly. In that pious atmosphere, a gentle breeze began to blow and Gangadevi’s clothes were slightly deranged. Just at that moment, Mahabhisa took a stealthy glance at her and she returned that glance. Brahma who got very angry on this inappropriate behaviour and cursed both of them to be born as human beings. Gangadevi begged pardon, Brahma lifted the curse and blessed her that the Astavasus would come to the earth to be born as her sons, and that afterwards she could come back to Heaven. Gangadevi was later born as a mortal woman in the world under the name Ganga and she spent her days in the forests near the Ganga River valleys.
Astavasus are Elemental Gods, who were born to Dharma and Vasu, the daughter of Daksha. Some scriptures also have a version that they were the children of Kashyap and Aditi. Once, when they were traveling with their wives, they happened to reach Vasishtha’s hermitage. One of the wives liked Vasishtha ’s cow Nandini, and to please her, her husband carried it away along with its calf. Vasishtha, on returning to the ashram found that Nandini is missing and used his divine vision to locate it. Having realised what had happened, he cursed the vasus to be born as humans. The vasus repented and apologised to Vasishtha, who having considered said that the seven vasus who were not guilty would spend a negligible time in human form, but Dyu, who took the cow, would definitely remain as human for a very long time. As per Mahabharata, it was Dyu who later born as Bhishma.
When the vasus were contemplating the curse, Ganga approached them. They requested her to take a human form, marry a king, become their mother when they took the human form, and throw them into the river as soon as they were born. Ganga agreed, except that she will have to leave one son to the king both to fulfil Sage Vasishtha’s curse that Dyu will stay for a long time as well as to ensure her association with the King is not fruitless. Vasus agreed and went away.
In those days, the ruler of the lunar dynasty was a king named Pratipa. Having no children, he went to the bank of the river Ganga and performed severe austerities. Gangadevi who was moving about in the forests nearby, saw the King deeply absorbed in his tapas. She approached him and sat on his right thigh. She wanted the King to be her husband. He explained to her that the right thigh is the proper seat of a daughter-in-law and so she would become his son’s wife in due course. In course of time, Pratipa had a son, Shantanu. When Shantanu grew up into a young man, one day he went for a hunt to the Ganga-valley and there he met Gangadevi. He fell in love with her at first sight and courted her. Gangadevi agreed to become his wife on condition that he should never question her actions or say anything to displease her and if he ever violated that condition, she would leave him. Infatuated by the heavenly beauty of the damsel, the king readily accepted the condition and they became man and wife.
King Shantanu became exceedingly gratified with Ganga’s conduct, beauty, magnanimity, and attention to his comforts. And the king, while thus enjoying himself with his wife, had seven children born to him but were thrown into the river by Ganga as soon as they were born. Though not happy with her cruel act, the king dares not question for fear of her leaving him. But when the eighth child was born, and when his wife as before was about to throw it into the river, the king with a sorrowful expression requested her not to do such a heinous crime and spare the child. His wife said “I shall not destroy this child of yours. But according to our agreement, the period of my stay with you is at an end”. I am Ganga, lived with you so long for accomplishing the purposes of the eight illustrious Vasus had to assume human forms due to curse from Sage Vasishtha. There is no woman on earth except one like me, a celestial of human form, to become their mother. You, having become the father of the eight Vasus, have acquired great blessings and merit. It was also agreed between myself and the Vasus that I should free them from their human forms as soon as they would be born. I am taking the eighth Vasu with me now and will return to you once his studies are completed. Thus, was born Devavrata, result of three curses. Father and Mother cursed by Brahma and self by Rishi Vasishta.
Ganga took her son Devavrata to different realms, where he was brought up and trained by many eminent sages. Brihaspati, the preceptor of the Devas taught Devavrata the duties of kings and other Shastras, Shukracharya, the preceptor of the Asuras taught him political science and other branches of knowledge, Vasishta, taught the Vedas and the Vedangas and Sanat kumara, the eldest son of Lord Brahma taught Devavrata the mental and spiritual sciences. Parasurama, trained Bhishma in warfare and Lord Indra bestowed Devavrata with celestial weapons. Thus, commanded by Ganga, Shantanu took his mighty and handsome son and returned to his capital and installed his son as his heir-apparent. The prince by his behaviours soon gratified his father, the other members of the Paurava race and all the subjects of the kingdom. King Shantanu lived happily with that son of his.
Four years had thus passed away, when the king one day went into the woods on the bank of the Yamuna perceived a sweet scent coming from an unknown direction. Driven by the desire of ascertaining the cause, looked around and found a black-eyed maiden of celestial beauty, the daughter of a fisherman. The king addressing her, said, ‘Who are you and whose daughter? What are you doing here? She answered; I am the daughter of the chief of the fishermen. At his command, I am engaged in rowing passengers across this river in my boat.’ Shantanu, seeing that maiden of celestial beauty, amiableness, and such fragrance, desired her for his wife. The King immediately visited her father and solicited his consent for the marriage. But the chief of the fishermen replied to the monarch, saying, ‘O king, it is a great fortune that the King of the Kuru Empire is asking for my daughter in marriage. However, if you desire to obtain this beautiful maiden as your wife, I request you to give me a pledge that the son born of this maiden shall be installed by you as your successor. Since Devavrata is already installed as Yuvaraja and heir to the kingdom, the king with his heart afflicted by desire returned to Hastinapura, thinking all the way of the fisherman’s daughter. Having returned home, the monarch passed his time in sorrowful meditation. One day, Devavrata approached his distressed father and said, everything is fine in your kingdom and why are you so sad? Absorbed in your own thoughts, you do not speak much and look pale and emaciated. I wish to know the problem so that I can find a remedy. Thus, addressed by his son, Shantanu answered, ‘it is true that I am sad and I will tell you the reason. You are my only son and only heir to this large kingdom. Since you are always engaged in war and conquering kingdoms and destiny is very fragile, I am afraid of your life and what will happen to our race if anything ever happens to you. Though I do not desire to marry again, I only pray that our dynasty may be perpetuated forever. The wise say that he that has one son has no son. That indeed is the cause of my melancholy. When Devavrata came to know about this, he took initiative and himself went to the father of Satyavati. He promised the father of Satyavati that the son of Shantanu and Satyavati will become the king after Shantanu. Even this did not satisfy Satyavati’s father and he expressed fear that may be Devavrata’s sons will demand kingdom. At this Devavrata took vow that he will not marry and so nullified any possibility of conflict in future. This vow of remaining celibate throughout the life was considered a terrible vow and so he came to be called as Bhisma, meaning the terrible. The name Bhishma was conferred on him by his father and also blessed him with ‘Ichha Mrityu’ (death on desire only).
Bhishma’s life as a mentor and regent to successive Kuru kings is a testament to his unwavering commitment to duty and his profound sense of responsibility towards the kingdom of Hastinapura. Bhishma’s mentoring began with the upbringing and education of Satyavati’s sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. After their untimely deaths, he took on the responsibility of ensuring the stability and prosperity of Hastinapura by serving as regent until a suitable heir could be found. During this period, Bhishma provided wise counsel, maintained law and order, and upheld the honour and dignity of the Kuru dynasty. One of the most significant aspects of Bhishma’s role as a mentor and regent was his guidance of the next generation of Kuru princes, including the Pandavas and Kauravas. He played a crucial role in their upbringing and education, imparting invaluable lessons on morality, duty, and statecraft. Bhishma’s teachings laid the foundation for their future roles as leaders and rulers. Despite his advanced age, Bhishma remained actively involved in the affairs of the kingdom, offering counsel and support to the reigning monarchs. His vast knowledge of history, politics, and warfare made him an indispensable advisor, and his unwavering integrity earned him the trust and respect of all who sought his guidance. Throughout his tenure as mentor and regent, Bhishma remained steadfast in his commitment to upholding dharma and ensuring the welfare of Hastinapura. His selfless service and dedication to duty set a shining example for future generations, inspiring reverence and admiration for centuries to come.
The Dilemma of Kurukshetra – The conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas, Bhishma’s nephews, presented him with a moral dilemma. Bound by his oath to serve the Kuru throne, he sided with the Kauravas despite knowing the righteousness of the Pandavas’ claim. This decision ultimately tarnished his image as a just warrior. Though Bhishma fought valiantly on the battlefield, his arrows aimed to disable rather than kill. He knew the righteousness of the Pandavas’ cause and perhaps even hoped to nudge the Kauravas towards a truce. However, his loyalty to the throne remained unshaken, creating a tragic conflict within him.
The Fall of the Mighty Bhishma – Bhishma’s death was as complex as his life. Shikhandi, born as Amba in a previous life, donned women’s clothes on the battlefield. Bhishma, bound by his vow of not harming women, refused to fight. This created an opening for Arjuna, the mighty Pandava archer, to shower Bhishma with arrows, creating a bed of arrows for him to lie upon. Lying on this bed of arrows for days, Bhishma imparted valuable life lessons to Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava. He waited for the arrival of Uttarayana, the auspicious northward movement of the sun, a time considered ideal for attaining liberation. Finally, after 58 days, Bhishma breathed his last, leaving behind a legacy of immense strength, unwavering duty, and a life forever bound by complex choices.
Sharing Wisdom: Bhishma used these extra days to share valuable knowledge and counsel with Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, and other warriors. This included insights into statecraft, warfare, and dharma (righteous conduct). Bhishma taught that a righteous government is the root of all national and individual virtue. The extent of Bhishma’s greatness is manifest in his wisdom and saintly life, which relate to the highest principles of existence.
Symbolic Significance: The death on a bed of arrows is symbolic on multiple levels:
The Price of Duty: It showcases the painful consequences of unwavering loyalty. Bhishma’s refusal to break his vow, even against his better judgment, led to a slow and agonizing death.
The Duality of Bhishma: Bhishma lies on the arrows – a warrior’s weapon becomes his deathbed. This represents the duality of his life – a powerful warrior entangled in moral dilemmas.
The Power of Choice: Though fatally wounded, Bhishma retains control over his death, highlighting the significance of his chosen time.
Bhishma’s death serves as a potent reminder that even the most powerful warriors are ultimately mortals. It’s a testament to his strength, resilience, and his unwavering adherence to his principles, even in the face of excruciating pain.
At times, the greatness of a person can be gauged from the kind of people who assemble at his deathbed. By that standard Bhishma indeed was a person much respected not only by the kings on earth, but also gods and rishis. On his final day, King Yudhishthira, at the head of his brothers, addressed Bhishma, ‘I am Yudhishthira, Salutations to you, O son of the river Ganga! With me here are preceptors of all branches of learning, Brahmanas, Ritwiks, all my brothers, king Dhritarashtra, as also Vasudeva of great prowess.
Pulastya once said to Bhishma, “You of excellent vows, I have been much gratified with your humility, self-control, truth and morality”. That is Bhishma in short. In his last days before ascended to heaven, he recited to Yudhishthira the famous hymn to Vishnu, the Vishnu Sahasra Nama.
Bhishma’s life in the Mahabharata is a testament to the challenges of upholding principles in difficult times. He embodies the ideals of righteousness and selflessness, securing his place as a legend in Indian mythology. Yet, Bhishma’s character is also riddled with complexities. His unwavering loyalty to the throne forced him into a moral conflict, fighting against the Pandavas despite knowing their cause was just. Bhishma’s story grapples with timeless questions – loyalty versus duty, personal desires versus societal expectations, and the fleeting nature of power compared to the constant pursuit of ethical leadership. The Mahabharata, through Bhishma’s journey, offers valuable lessons on navigating the intricacies of dharma (righteousness). These lessons remain relevant even today. Bhishma’s legacy extends far beyond his mortal life. He continues to inspire reflection on the importance of duty, sacrifice, and the pursuit of righteousness in a world of constant change. His struggle between duty and personal conviction resonates even in the modern era, prompting us to question the limits of obedience and the importance of challenging tradition when necessary.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!