Bhishma

Author : YASHWANT RAMESH KUMAR

In the Mahabharata, Bhishma (Sanskrit: भीष्‍म, IAST: Bhīṣma) also known asBhishma Pitamahaand Gangaputra Bhishma was well known for his pledge of celibacy. Originally named as 'Devavrata', he was the eighth son of the Kuru King Shantanu and the river goddess Ganga.Bhishma was blessed with a boon from his father that he could choose the time of his death or he may remain immortal till he desires. He was related to both the Pandavas and the Kauravas through his half-brother, Vichitravirya (Son of Satyavati). He was one of the greatest archers and warriors of his time and was trained by Lord Vishnuś sixth avatar Parshurama. He also handed down the Vishnu Sahasranama to Yudhishtira when he was on his bed of arrows after the battle of Kurukshetra.

Birth and Early Life

King Shantanu saw a beautiful woman on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) and asked her to marry him. She agreed but with one condition: that Shantanu would not question her actions. Shantanu accepted her condition and made a vow never to ask her the reason for her actions. They married and she later gave birth to a son but drowned the child very soon after his birth. Shantanu could not ask her the reason, because of his promise, she would leave him. One by one, seven sons were born to them and were all drowned by Ganga.

When Ganga was about to drown the eighth son, Shantanu, devastated, could not restrain himself and confronted her. Finally, Ganga explained to King Shantanu about Brahma's curse given to Mahabhisha and her. Then, she told him that their eight children were Eight Vasus who were cursed by the renowned sage Vasishtha to be born on earth as mortal humans however when they pacified him, he limited his curse and told them that they would be freed from this curse within a year of their birth as humans. So, she released seven of them from this life by drowning them all. However, the eighth child Bhishma, the amsha of Prabhasa was destined to live a long life and never have a wife or have children. However, the sage also gave a boon to him that he would be virtuous, conversant with all the holy scriptures, and will be an obedient son to his father.

Ganga told Shantanu that she will take him to the heavens to train him properly for the King's throne and status following his birth. With these words, she disappeared along with the child while Shantanu was struck with grief thinking about spending the rest of his life without her.[7]

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 Kamadhenu, 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 incarnate in the world of humans. Upon the Vasus appealing to Vashishta's mercy, the seven Vasus who had assisted in stealing Kamadhenu had their curse mitigated such that their avatars would be liberated from their human birth as soon as they were born; however, Prabhasa being the protagonist of the theft was cursed to endure a longer life on the earth. The curse, however, is softened to the extent that his avatar would be one of the most illustrious men of his time. It was this Prabhasa also called Vasu Dyaus whose avatar was Bhishma.

Painting depicting presentation byGangaof her son Devavrata (the future Bhishma) to his father, Shantanu

After Devavrata was born, his motherGangatook him to different realms, where he was brought up and trained by many eminent sages (Mahabharata Shanti Parva, section 38)