Bhishma
Bhishma | |
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Hastinapura |
Bhishma (
Originally named Devavrata, he was made the heir-apparent of his kingdom. However, he renounced his birthright for his father's happiness and took a vow of lifelong
Bhishma is a revered figure in Hinduism. Each year his death anniversary is celebrated as
Etymology and epithets
According to Monier Monier-Williams, the word Bhishma (भीष्म) means "terrible", "horrible", "fearful" or "fierce". The word is also used to describe Rudra, the fierce god, as well as the Rakshasa.[2] In the epic, Devavrata received this as he undertook a fierce or terrible vow (Bhishma pratigya) and fulfilled it.[3][4] Bhishma was given the name Devavrata (देवव्रत) at his birth, meaning one who is devoted to Gods.[5]
As Bhishma was the only surviving son of Ganga, he was given many epithets which mean "son of Ganga" — Gangaputra (गंगापुत्र), Gang (गंग), Gangasuta (गंगासुत) and Gangeya (गांगेय). The word Gangadatta (गंगादत्त) means given by Ganga.[6] Patronymics of Bhishma include Shantanava (शान्तनव), Shantanuputra, Shantanusuta and Shantanuja.[7] Bhishma was also referred as:
- Gaurānga (गौरांग) – the one with fair body
- Shvetaveera (श्वेतवीर) – a white warrior or the one who is heroic white and has all weapons in white Colour
- Bhārata (भारत) – a descendant of Bharata
- Mahāmahima (महामहिम) – his excellency
- Parshuramashishya (परशुरामशिष्य) – disciple of Parshurama
- Pitāmaha (पितामह)- Grandfather (also known as Bhishma Pitamaha; called by Pandavas and Kauravas)
Birth and early life
Bhishma's birth and youth are mainly narrated in the
According to the legend, Shantanu, the youngest son of the king
Once the celestial Vasus and their wives were enjoying themselves in the forest when the wife of Dyu spotted an excellent cow and asked her husband to steal it. The cow was Nandini, daughter of the wish-fulfilling cow
Ganga named her son Devavrata and took him to different loka (realms), where he was brought up and trained by many eminent sages.[11][12][13]
- Shastras.
- The sages Vedangasto Devavrata.
- Sanatkumara: The eldest son of the god Brahmataught Devavrata the mental and spiritual sciences.
- Mrikandu of Bhrigu's race who acquired everlasting youth from the god Shivataught Devavrata in the duties of the Yatis.
- Parashurama: The son of Jamadagni trained Bhishma in warfare.
- Indra: The king of the Devas. He bestowed celestial weapons on Bhishma.
Years later, Shantanu was roaming on the banks of the Ganga and observed that the water of the river had turned shallow. He saw a young man blocking the water currents with a dam made up of arrows. Shantanu recognised his son because of the similarities and begged Ganga to return him. Ganga appeared in a youthful form and handed her son to Shantanu as per her promise. The young Devavrata was known as Gangadatta as he was handed over by Ganga.[14]
The oath
Devavrata was made the heir-apparent, and the citizens loved him because of his divine background and eligibility. Meanwhile, Shantanu went to the forest and met a fisherwoman named Satyavati, who operated the boats crossing the Yamuna. He fell in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage from her father. However, the fisherman-chief told that he would only agree if Shantanu promised to put the son born to Satyavati as the heir. Shantanu rejected the offer as he had already promised the throne to Devavrata and returned to the palace. He started to avoid any company and spend his time in bed in grief and solitude. Devavrata noticed his father's sorrow and discovered the reason behind it from a minister.[3]
Devavrata immediately rushed to the cottage of the fishermen-chief and begged him for Satyavati, but the fishermen-chief repeated his former condition. For his father's pleasure and happiness, Devavrata ceded his rights to the throne and promised to put the son of Satyavati on the throne of the kingdom. Satyavati's father was not assured as he claimed that disputes were likely to arise between Satyavati's son and Devavrata's children regarding the rights to the throne. To satisfy him, Devavrata took the vow of lifelong Brahmacharya (celibacy), thus denying himself the pleasures of marital life.[3]
The celestials showered flowers from heaven and he came to be known as "Bhishma" as he took a terrible vow. With the consent of the fisherman, Bhishma took Satyavati to his father on a chariot and informed him about his vows. A loving father Shantanu gave him a boon of Iccha Mrityu, the control over the time of his death.
Affairs of Kuru Kingdom
After the death of his father, Bhishma played a major role in the affairs of the Kuru kingdom. He managed the kingdom when there were succession crises. He also arranged the marriage of his nephews and tried to bring peace between his grand-nephews, the
The text
Swayamvara of the Kashi princesses and battle with Parashurama
When Vichitravirya grew up, Bhishma decided to bring
The Udyoga Parva further narrates about Amba as well as the battle between Bhishma and Parashurama. When Amba requested Shalva to marry her, he rejected her, claiming that he was already humiliated during the Svayamvara. He also told her that he could not accept a woman, who was won by another man. A variant suggests that after Amba returned to Hastinapur, Bhishma then asked Vichitravirya to marry her, but he also refused to marry her as she loved another man. With no one to accept her, Amba blamed Bhishma for her misery and wanted revenge from him. She went to the kings of several kingdom and tried to convince them to slay Bhishma; but none of them agreed. After she was advised by some sages, she met Parasurama, Bhishma's teacher and successfully convinced him in giving vow to help her.[20]
Parasurama went to
Political influences
Vichitravirya was crowned as the king of Hastinapura and he ruled for a few years, before he died of
Despite Dhritrashtra being the eldest among the brothers, he was denied the throne because of his blindness. Pandu was appointed as the king, but later, he renounced his position and went to the forest with his wives. Dhritarashtra was made the de facto king and Gandhari gave birth to the
From their childhood, the Kauravas hated their cousins and tried to kill them multiple times. One such was the event of Lakshagriha, in which Duryodhana—the eldest Kaurava—decided to burn the Pandavas. Bhishma was despondent but Vidura consoled him and told them that the Pandavas were alive. The event led to the succession dispute between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira. To resolve this, Bhishma advised Dhritarashtra to divide the kingdom among the princes. The Pandavas made their capital in Indraprastha and performed the Rajasuya to achieve sovereignty and the status of the emperor. Bhishma supported them and attended the ceremony. He suggested Yudhishthira give Krishna the highest place in the ceremony, but this enraged Shishupala—an enemy of Krishna. He initially protested to give the position to Bhishma, but after Bhishma showed no objection in honouring Krishna, Shishupala started insulting him.[29]
Bhishma was present during the gambling game in Hastinapur, where Draupadi—the wife of the Pandavas—was humiliated in the court. When she questioned the dharma of Yudhishthira losing her in the game, Bhishma tried but failed to answer her and described dharma to be subtle.[32]
The Kurukshetra War
In the great battle at
Before the battle, at the Kauravas army's assembly, Bhishma singled out Karna and forbade him from participating in the war under his command, and even affronted him as Sutaputra (son of Suta - a Kshatriya and brahmana). Karna then mutually returned the hostility by refusing to serve under Bhishma. In truth, both side of the affront were aware of Karna's true lineage, and had to make pretext to prevent Karna from battling his brothers.
Bhishma was one of the most powerful warriors of his time and in history. He acquired his prowess and invincibility from being the son of the sacred
At the beginning of the war, Bhishma vowed not to kill any of the Pandavas, as he loved them, being their grand-uncle. Duryodhana often confronted Bhishma alleging that he was not actually fighting for the Kaurava camp as he would not kill any of the Pandavas. He also did not allow any of the Kauravas to be killed in the war, as he loved all his grand-nephews and wanted a peace negotiation.
Duryodhana approached Bhishma one night and accused him of not fighting the battle to his full strength because of his affection for the Pandavas. On the next day there was an intense battle between Bhishma and Arjuna. Although Arjuna was very very skilled and powerful, he was not fighting seriously as his heart was not in it to hurt his beloved grandsire Bhishma. Bhishma fired arrows such that Arjuna and Krishna were both injured. Krishna, enraged over Bhishma's devastation of the Pandavas army, got down from his charioteer seat and picked up a displaced wheel, intending to use it in place of his Sudarshana Chakra. Seeing this, both Arjuna and Bhishma stopped their battle, with the protector of Hastinapur humbly telling the avatar of Vishnu that he would immediately lay down his life should Krishna took action here and now. Arjuna ultimately convinced Krishna to remain true to his vow and returned themselves to their chariot. Thus Bhishma fulfilled his vow of forcing Krishna to raise a weapon. Then Arjuna used stronger weapons, injuring Bhishma. Bhishma and Arjuna's duel was praised by the gods themselves as they watched over it from the sky.
The war was thus locked in a stalemate. 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 loved the Pandavas and knew that he stood as an obstacle in their path to victory and so when they visited Bhishma, he gave them a hint as to how they could defeat him. He told them that if faced by one who had once been of the opposite gender, he would lay down his arms and fight no longer.
Later Krishna told Arjuna how he could bring down Bhishma, through the help of Shikhandi. The Pandavas were not agreeable to such a ploy, as by using such tactics they would not be following the path of Dharma, but Krishna suggested a clever alternative. And thus, on the next day, the tenth day of battle Shikhandi was accompanied by Arjuna as Arjuna was his chariot protector and they faced Bhishma who avoided Shikhandi. He was then felled in battle by Arjuna, pierced by innumerable arrows. Arjuna shot arrows at Bhishma, piercing his entire body. Thus, as was preordained (Mahadeva's boon to Amba that she would be the cause of Bhishma's fall) Shikhandi, that is, Amba reincarnated was the cause of Bhishma's fall.
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 lying on such a bed of arrows humbled even the gods who watched from the heavens in reverence. They silently blessed the mighty warrior. When the young princes of both armies gathered around him, inquiring if there was anything they could do, he told them that while his body lay on the bed of arrows above the ground, his head hung unsupported. Hearing this, many of the princes, both Kaurava and the Pandava alike brought him pillows of silk and velvet, but he refused them. He asked Arjuna to give him a pillow fit for a warrior. Arjuna then removed three arrows from his quiver and placed them underneath Bhishma's head, the pointed arrow tips facing upwards. To quench the war veteran's thirst, Arjuna shot an arrow into the earth, and a jet stream of water rose up and into Bhishma's mouth.[33] It is said that Ganga herself rose to quench her son's thirst.[20]
Death
After the war, while on his deathbed (arrow bed), he gave deep and meaningful instructions to Yudhishthira on statesmanship and the duties of a king. Bhishma always gave priority to Dharma. He always walked in the path of Dharma, despite his state because of the vow, he was supposed to forcefully follow the orders of his king Dhritharashtra, which were mostly Adharma, he was totally upset. He was sure he must let dharma win and Pandavas win, but the way he led the war and stayed silent were his sins in a way and he paid for it with the bed of arrows. Finally, Bhishma gave up the fight, focusing his life force and breath, sealing the wounds, and waiting for the auspicious moment to give up his body on the arrow bed. He did wait for about 58 nights for the winter solstice or first day of Uttarayana to give up his body on the arrow bed. His body was later cremated by Emperor Yudhishthira in a great ceremony.
Mahabharata states that he attained salvation after his death. He was granted the Maatru Lok (which is considered even above Swarga, the heaven). Magha (month) Shukla Ashtami marks the death anniversary of Bhishma Pitamah (Father), the day being known as Bhishma Ashtami. Hindus observe Ekodishta Śrāddha for him on this day, for many generations, and can only be performed by those whose fathers are not alive. Bhishma Panchaka vrata (fast) is observed in all Vishnu temples, starting from Bhishma Ashtami, for five days until Bhishma Dwadasi.[citation needed] People believe that they will have a son with the steadfast qualities of Bhishma if they observe these holy rituals on the river banks.[34] It is also said that those who will perform this fast will live a happy life and attain salvation after their death.
In popular culture
Films and television
His life has been made into many films in different Indian languages. The first silent film was made in 1922. During the talkie period, the first film was made in Hindi (1937). It was followed by a Bengali film in 1942 directed by Jyotish Bannerjee. Jahar Ganguli played the title role.[citation needed]
- Telugu cinema, two films were made. The first film on Bhishma was made in 1944 directed by Chitrapu Narayana Rao. Jandhyala Gourinatha Sastry played the role of Bhishma. B. A. Subba Rao made a film in 1962 titled Bhishma. The title role was played by N. T. Rama Rao.[citation needed]
- Bhishma's character was played by Mukesh Khanna in the B.R. Chopra's classic television series Mahabharat (1988).
- In Shri Krishna(1993) Sunil Nagar portrayed the character.
- Surendra Pal portrayed the character in Chandraprakash Dwivedi's Ek Aur Mahabharat.
- In the television series Draupadi (2001) Pankaj Dheerplayed the character.
- In Balaji Telefilms' Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki (2008) Ronit Roy played the role.
- In Star Plus' television series Aarav Chowdharyplayed the role of Bhishma.
- Amitabh Bachchan has also voiced the character in the animated Mahabharat (2013).
- Naved Aslam in Sony TV's Suryaputra Karn. [citation needed]
- Ambareesh played the role of Bhishma in the 2019 mythological Kannada movie Kurukshetra, which was his last film as well.
- In the 2022 Malayalam movie Mahabharat and The Godfather.
Modern references
The tank
Notes
Citations
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 September 2011). "Bhishma, Bhisma, Bhīṣma, Bhismā, Bhiṣmā: 22 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Monier-Williams 1872, p. 712.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mani 1975, p. 135.
- ^ Long 2020, p. 91.
- ^ Monier-Williams 1872, p. 432.
- ^ Gandhi 2004, p. 115.
- ^ a b Mani 1975, p. 137.
- ^ Mani 1975, p. 134.
- ^ a b Ganguly, Adi Parva: Section 98
- ^ Ganguly, Adi Parva: section 99
- ^ a b Ganguly, Adi Parva: section 100
- ^ Ganguly, Shanti Parva: section 38
- ^ "Why Devavrata came to be known as Bhishma?". Zee News. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ISBN 978-81-208-1673-2.
- ^ Ireland, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and (1879). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Bhattacharya 2004, p. 21–25.
- ^ Ganguly, Adi Parva: Section 101
- ^ Ganguly, Adi Parva: Section 102
- ^ ISBN 0-333-93076-2.
- ^ "Mahabharata Story By Rajaji – Page 5 | Mahabharata Stories, Summary and Characters from Mahabharata". www.mahabharataonline.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Meyer pp. 165–6
- ^ Ganguli, Kisari Mohan (1883–1896). "SECTION CIV". The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva. Sacred texts archive.
- ^ Choppra, Kusum (17 June 2017). "Satyavati, the feminist who stood up to patriarchy". DNA India. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Ganguli, Kisari Mohan (1883–1896). "SECTION CIII". The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva. Sacred texts archive.
- ^ Meyer p. 165
- ISBN 978-93-5201-000-4.
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CX". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ a b Mani 1975, p. 136.
- ISBN 978-1-5437-0576-8.
- ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9.
- ISBN 978-0-19-986078-4.
- OCLC 855398616.
- ^ "Bhishma Ashtami". Drik Panchang. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ISBN 978-1-4054-8664-4. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ISBN 978-81-8379-468-8. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
References
- Ganguly, Kisari Mohan. "Sacred-Texts: Hinduism". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- Mani, Vettam (1975). Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. pp. 134–137. ISBN 978-0-8426-0822-0.
- Monier-Williams, Sir Monier (1872). A Sanskṛit-English Dictionary Etymologically and Philologically Arranged: With Special Reference to Greek, Latin, Gothic, German, Anglo-Saxon, and Other Cognate Indo-European Languages. Clarendon Press.
- Gandhi, Maneka (2004). The Penguin Book of Hindu Names for Boys. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-303168-0.
- Long, Jeffery D. (15 April 2020). Historical Dictionary of Hinduism. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-2294-5.
- Meyer, Johann Jakob (1989) [1971]. Sexual life in ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 81-208-0638-7.
- Brodbeck, Simon; Brian, Black, eds. (9 August 2007). Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-11995-0.
- Dalal, Roshen (18 April 2014). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9.
- B. R. Rajam Aiyar (30 September 1996). Rambles in Vedanta. Motilal Banarasi Das Publishers Pvt Ltd. pp. 113–114. ISBN 9788120809123. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- Verma, Manish (2000). Fasts and Festivals of India. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. pp. 73–. ISBN 978-81-7182-076-4. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- Bhattacharya, Pradip (May–June 2004). "Of Kunti and Satyawati: Sexually Assertive Women of the Mahabharata" (PDF). Manushi (142): 21–25.
External links
- Quotations related to Bhishma at Wikiquote
- Media related to Bhishma at Wikimedia Commons
- Persons and stories from the Mahābhārata
- Small story illustrating Bhishma's greatness