Bhismapitā

People in Shastras

Bhishma was the son of Shāntanu, of the Kuru dynasty, and Gangā. His name was Devvrat. He learned the Vedas from Vashishta and archery from Bruhaspati. Shāntanu, his father, became infatuated with Satyavati and wanted to marry her. However, Satyavati’s father wanted his daughter’s son to become the king, not Bhishma. So Bhishma vowed to remain a celibate for life so that he would not become king (since he cannot father any children to continue the lineage). Taking such an extreme vow earned him the name Bhishma. In return, his father Shāntanu granted him the ability to choose the timing of his death. However, Bhishma vowed not to die until he is sure Hastināpur is safe and protected. When King Pāndu renounced being king of Hastināpur, Bhishma made the blind Drutrāshtra the king. When Duryodhan unjustly took Pāndava’s kingdom, leading to the war, Bhishma fought on Duryodhan’s side because he was bound to protect Hastināpur (his allegiance was to the king of Hastināpur). In the war, Arjun kept Shikhandi in front of him and killed Bhishma with his arrows. He lay on a bed of arrows till the end of the war. After the ward ended and the Pāndavas won, Yudhishthir declined to sit on the throne. However, Bhishma reminded him of his duty as a king. He taught him the dharma of kings and dharma of liberation. He died afterward.