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Bhishma, born as Devavrata was the eighth son of Shantanu, a ruler from the Kuru dynasty ruling over Bharat from the city of Hastinapur. He was a grand uncle to the Pandavas and the Kauravas and was like a godfather to them. Devavrata means pious whereas Bhishma means dreadful. Devavrata acquired the name Bhishma after taking up a terrible oath-“Pratigya”. Bhishma is known for his role in the Kurukshetra war mentioned in one of the two great Sanskrit epics, Mahabharata.
Devavrata came to be known as Bhishma when he took a terrible oath. He took the oath so that his Father Shantanu, could get married to Satyavati. Satyavati’s father had denied to give his daughter in marriage to Shantanu as that would mean his Grandson wouldn’t take the throne because Devavrata would still be Shantanu’s eldest son. Shantanu was disappointed when he couldn’t convince Satyavati’s father. Devavrata could not bear his father’s disappointment, so he decided to talk to Satyavati’s father. Devavrata promised Satyavathi’s father he would not claim the throne to which the father said if Devavrata doesn’t claim the throne, his son would claim the throne. So Devavrata took a terrible oath of Bhishama pratigya – lifelong celibacy and also that he would serve all the kings that take the throne for however long he lives. Pleased by his generosity, the demigods granted him with the power of Iccha Marana – death by choice. By this power, Bhishma could decide when to die. Nonetheless he was not immortal.
And thus Devavrata became Bhishma. The people of Hastinapur blamed Shantanu for not giving the thrne to the most able candidate, Devavrata, for he was not only a skilled brave warrior but also very good at political science. Bhishma calmed the people and took the blame upon himself. Also the people were scared if Shantanu’s son will be as loyal as him and skilful. So Bhishma took another oath to serve whoever takes the throne like he served his father faithfully.
Shantanu had two sons with Satyavati; Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Vichitravirya was ready for his marriage and Bhishma in order to find a bride for him abducted Amba, Ambika and Ambalika of Kashi, now Varanasi, from their Swayamwara. Swayamwara was an ancient Indian practice where the girl of age would choose a husband. Amba, one of the three girls whom Bhishma abducted was in love with Salwa, the one whom she chose in the Swayamwara. Bhishma who learnt about this later, took her back to Kashi to give her to Salwa but he refused to marry her. The enraged Amba approached Bhishma asking him to marry her. But Bhishma refused the proposal and told her about his Oath.
Infuriated by the denial of her proposal, Amba sought the help of Parshurama, Bhishma’s teacher. Parshurama ordered Bhishma to marry Amba but again, Bhishma refused to break his promise. Parshurama who did not want to give called for a fight with Bhishma at Kurukshetra. The battle started and Bhishma came on a chariot but saw Parshurama standing on his foot. He requested Parshurama to come with a chariot to even out. Parshurama gave Bhishma the power of divine vision and asked him to look again. What Bhishma saw, was incredibly shocking. Parshurama had made the whole of the Earth his chariot, the four Vedas as his horses, Upanishads as reins, Vayu (Wind) as his charioteer and goddesses Gayathri, Savitri and Saraswathi as his armor. After 23 days of battle, on the 23rd day, the demigods told Parshurama to give up as Bhishma was too powerful. Parshurama apologized to Amba for not being able to defeat Bhishma and died.
Amba, however did not give up the fight and declared she will meditate to the gods and achieve what she wanted. She underwent a penance to please Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva impressed by her penance assured that she would be born as a man named Shikhandi, who would be the cause of Bhishma’s death.
In the great war of Kurukshetra of Mahabharata, Bhishma was the commander of the army of Kauravas for 10 days. He was like a grandfather to the Pandavas; nonetheless he gave a good fight against them but Duryodhana thought he was intentionally not giving his best fight because he cared for the Pandavas. Thus to prove to Duryodhana that he was being an honest warrior, he put all his powers attained by his oath into five arrows which he would use to kill the Pancha Pandavas (five Pandavas) but Duryodhana had given a wish to Arjuna which he would grant. Arjuna used the wish to ask Duryodhana the five arrows. Bhishma who found out about this the next day attained complete belief that Lord Krishna was really an incarnation of Vishnu, for Krishna was the one who found out about the five arrows and sent Arjuna to get them.
Duryodhana went to Bhishma again after explaining him everything that happened and asked him for another five arrows. But it was quite impossible as Bhishma spent all the powers he attained from his celibacy with the five arrows. He realized that the wish of the divine Lord Krishna was undeniable and nothing can be done. Nevertheless Bhishma swore to fight with all his might in the battlefield and also that he’d make Lord Krishna break his promise of not fighting with any weapons on the Battlefield.
Bhishma fought fiercely with Arjuna. It was the 10th day of the great Kurukshetra war. Although Arjuna was an elite archer and a great warrior, he was no match to Bhishma. Arjuna was fighting to the best of his abilities but soon Bhishma was able to pierce multiple arrows into Arjuna and destroy his armour along with his bow, the mighty Gandiva. Lord Krishna grew angry looking at the battle and lifted a chariot wheel. Arjuna then convinced Krishna not to move any further and break his vow. Thus Krishna stood by his oath and also fulfilled Bhishma promise. Such is the beauty of the God.
Lord Krishna then explained to Arjuna the plan of using Shikhandi to kill Bhishma. And thus Arjuna used Shikhandi as his armour. Shikhandi was a woman by birth, but was grown up as man. Bhishma refused to fight with a woman and thus Arjuna took this opportunity to kill Bhishma. Bhishma finally gave up his life.
