Bhishma

After my death I went back to Sage Vashishta to tell sorry of my deeds. I told him as I have completed my punishment given by you, now could please forgive me? I thank you for the life, it was painful but yet glorious as you said. I really enjoyed the life you gave me. I just want to say that I will never steal anything. Vashishta was over delighted seeing me again after all the time of more three hundred and fifty years. He forgave me as he could see truth in my eyes. He said “I want to know what you did in the cursed life given by me.” I answered:

Mine is the story of tragedy, bitter oaths and sacrifices. I am the great hero yet a villain! I have three dimensional personalities, the way you look at me, you see me that way! I am nor right nor wrong. I am right in my own way. I am a neutral being. I am helpful, considerate compassionate, honourable and respectable. I have suffered from my childhood until my death as my birth on to the earth was to suffer and become pure from my sins and the evil deeds done in the last birth.  I am not immortal but yet I can die at my wish. I am very good at political science. I am an unparalleled archer and besides it I have mastered martial arts. All in all i am great and undefeatable warrior. I follow the path of Dharma and even stick ot my oaths even if I have to die. As a true warrior I never try to boast or show off my power and become proud of power. My story is amazing and incredible! I am wise and truthful. Almost whatever I speak comes true. I was respected by the public and thus was called Bishma Pita Maha or the Grandsire Bhishma. I was so glorious that I met Lord Vishnu twice in my visit to earth of three hundred and fifty years, once as a teacher – Parsurama and once as my opponent in the great war of Mahabharata as Krishna. I even left my last breath in front of Krishna. My life became really auspicious.

            My story of birth on this earth is as follows: The Vasus were considered to be semi-Gods at that time. The eight Vasus were:

1Anala - Anala

2Anila -  Anilo

3Soma -  Somascha

4 Ahas - Ahascha

5 Dhara -  Dharo

6 Dhruva -  Dhruvascha

7 Pratyoosha -  Pratyooshascha

8 Prabhasa -  Prabhaasascha

 I was one of the eight Vasus (Ashtavasus) in my previous birth. I was named Prabhasa the youngest of all. One fine day all of us the Ashta Vasus and our wives went to Sage Vashista’s ashram. My wife got impressed by Nandini - the cow of sage Vashista. She had a strong desire to have it and asked me to steal it away. I stole Nandini by the help of other seven Vasus. Vashista got enraged by this incident and cursed us to be re-born in this world. But because of Vasus’ pleading, Vashista softened the curse to born and die after a few hours, but I was the master mind behind stealing Nandini, so I had to live a full life on earth and because of my pleading he softened the curse. Now the curse said I would be one of the most glorious and respected people of that time.

            I was born into a kshtriya family. My father’s  name was Shantanu and my mother’s name Goddess Ganga. (Goddess of the river Ganga) My father Shantanu was attracted by Ganga’s beauty and proposed her to marry him. Ganga accepted but the condition she put was that, he would never question her no matter what ever she did and if by chance he broke his promise than Ganga would leave her forever. My father thought it was a simple promise and could be kept but he was mistaken at end.  I had eight brothers from which I was the youngest. But my mother Ganga drowned all the 7 brothers in river Ganga because she knew about the curse. My father however could not full-fill the promise made and my mother left him promising that she will give the child after he grows up.

            I am known as Bhishama which means one of the terrible oaths or the Bhishan Pratijya. This was my name from the childhood because my father wanted to marry another woman because my mother had left him. He wanted to marry the fisherwoman Satyavati but her father set darkness into his heart and refused. Satyavati’s father’s concern was that her daughter’s children would never get the throne as I was already born to Shantanu. I saw my father in discomfort and asked him what had happened but he didn’t speak anything. I finally struggled and came to know about my father’s problem. I pondered over the problem and came to a conclusion in taking a terrible oath sacrificing my own rights. I took an oath that I’ll never take on the throne of Hastinapura after my father and I’ll always serve the king of Hastinapura no matter whoever he is. This was my first vow. This was the sign. Satyvati’s father posed a counter-argument, that even if I gave up the throne my children would still fight for it as the kingship was hereditary. So I had to take another terrible oath of lifetime celibacy. My father was overwhelmed at the sacrifices I made for him which indicated my immense love for him. He immediately gave me boon ‘Swachhanda Mrityu’ meaning that I can control my own death, but yet not immortal. This also recognised me immediately amongst the gods and people.  My sacrifices are great! I took another oath after my father’s marriage that I’ll see my father’s image in the one who sits on Hastinapura’s throne and serve him loyally as my own father.

            This is one of my initial fights which I’ll describe ahead. This is a fight of truth and religion against ego and against religion. Once there lived a king named Ugraayudha of Ajaamiidha vamsha. By worshipping Lord Vishnu he got the Sudarshan Chackra as a boon. The Sudarshan Chackra day by day increased his proved because he was becoming more and more powerful and defeating al the warriors because of the Sudarshna Chackra. He became wicked and cruel. He started to conquer every king around just to prove his strength. Nobody would stand before him. His ego and proved grew. He stopped thinking about the right and wrong. Once he heard about me, that I am an invincible warrior and thus wanted to have a fight against me and he was better than me. He wrote a letter to me saying he didn’t want my kingdom but he wanted my mother Satyavati. He gave me one day’s time to think about it. I was furious than ever and called an immediate battle with him. My father had Shantanu had passed away before a few days only and his Shraadha and the other Pirtu Karyas were pending. So the pandits advised me that there was no match for the war and he was just like an ant before me. And as it is the shraadha one of the most important thing in the Pitru Karyas were going on so it was not good to take divine weapons for fighting. And until the time Shraadha will also be over the pandits said. Even if he disagrees than you can fight. I sent him a message calling of the war and having peace. But nothing worked on him and he directly used the Sudarshan Chackra on me. My strong religion protected me and Pati Vrata protected my mother. The Sudarshan Chackra became powerless as he was wrong and we were righteous. He tried out with his full energy but nothing could beat me! I and Vichitravirya marched forward and the king Ugraayudha soon lost his life just because of the bad deeds he did. From that I got recognised between gods. I learnt one thing that ego and going against the religion is bad for us. It will destroy us.

            Vichitravirya is one of the son of my step mother and I had to find a bride for him. I cleverly kidnaped princesses Amba, Ambika and Ambalika of Kashi (Varanasi) from the gathering at their swayamvara. Finally Vichitravirya married Ambika and Ambalika. Salwa was the ruler of Saubala, and Amba were in love. Upon reaching Hastinapura, Amba told Bhishma that she wished to wed Salwa instead of Vichitravirya. Bhishma then sent her back to Salwa who refused as it was embarrassing for a man to accept a woman who had been so long in the relation of another man. She then approached me, suggesting for marriage but I refused her, citing my oath to Satyavati’s father. Amba was as hot and bubbling as the sun could be and pledged to punish Bhishma even if she had to be re-born for numerous times. Upon the refusal Amba went to Parsurama my teacher for support. Parsurama ordered me to marry her but I refused because of my promise. Parsurama called me at Kurukshetra to fight against him.  I saw Parsurama without a chariot and armour and for a fight to be equal both should have the same equipment. Upon my request to have an armour and a chariot Parsuramas blessed me with the divine vision. I was astonished at once and couldn’t believe my eyes. But it was true that Parsurama’s chariot was the earth itself, wind was the charioteer, the four Vedas and the Upnishada, the wheels of chariot and the Vedic goddess were the armour. I got down and bowed to Parsurama respecting my religion. Fighting against elders was not something religious nor was turning away from the fight religious. Parsurama told “if you wouldn’t have done so I would have cursed you.”

            The war between us continued for twenty three days. Parsurama was immortal and I had the boon of control over my own death and so it was impractical fighting. I wanted to stop it somehow. At twenty second day of the war I asked my ancestors to suggest a way to end the war as it was useless and aimless fighting. My ancestors suggested me to use a weapon that was unknown to Parsurama. They bestowed me a weapon which would make Parsurama unconscious and put in sleep. Till the end of the day I must keep it working and by end of the day I must withdraw it back so he is again back to senses. According to the vedas who slept on the battle field was considered to be dead. On the final day the twenty third day we both were standing against each other and I was about to use the weapon suggested by my ancestors but some divine voice spoke out that I would insult my teacher by using the weapon and thus I stopped. Parsurama listening to it walked away from the battle field accepting his defeat. Parsurama went back and told to Amba that he could not defeat Bhishma. Amba pleased Lord Shiva and sought a boon that she will be the one to be instrumental for my death.

Vichitravirya had two sons named Pandu and Dhritarashtra. Dhritarashtra had Ninety Nine sons and one daughter and Pandu had 5 sons the Pandavas. Mahabharata the great war of tragedy took place almost because of me. My nephew Dhritarashtra in spite of being blind became the king of Hastinapura whereas Pandu should have been. He wanted to make Duryodhana his eldest son the king while Yudhistir Pandu’s was elder than him. Yudhistir was also counted as the most worthy to become the king by the people of Hastinapura. Shakuni planted the seed of hatred for Pandvas in Kaurauvas. He told that you are the only one who should become the king. I many times openly disagreed to my grandchildren but what could I do? I was bound by my oaths.

            I had to take part in the Great War Mahabharata because I was bound by my own self with the terrible oaths. I had to serve Duryodhana as a king for another thirteen years as the Pandavas were badly beaten in the dice game and had lost the kingdom, wife and everything. They had to go for exile and Duryodhana became the king. I had to unwillingly fight against the righteous-Pandavas. I gave my best to convince both the Kaurauvas and Pandavas for stopping the war because I could foresee the future and as it is it’s not good to fight between the cousins. None were ready to comprise and Pandavas already had taken the oath to break Duryodhana’s thigh. I had also taken an oath before Mahabharata began that I will protect Kaurauas but I’ll never kill any Pandava. I was the chief commander of the Kaurauva army for ten days. I was defeated by Arjuna on the on the tenth day. It was my complement given to Arjuna for defeating me. I would not pick up weapons in front of women and if you bring any women in the battle field I would have to quite. But it would be disrespectful Pandavas to bring woman in the battle field. It was Lord Krishna’s idea to bring Shikhandi (Amba) in the battle field. Arjuna rained immense arrows and I laid down on the arrow bed or the Ban Saiya.

            I knew that the Pandavas were surely going to win and until they have not got their throne I will not die. After the terrible war Panadsvas finally won and Hastinapura was in safe hands all again. I taught Yudhistir some political ways of ruling, administration and king crafts. He slowly left his soul in front of Lord Krishna. It was my evil deeds which affected the clan for five full generations.

            As you can see my character is really firm. If I was not there in the story of Mahabharata it would seem blank. It was because of my paths that the Mahabharata almost took place. Many innocents lost their lives but the upcoming generations will understand that war is disgusting; it is just blood sheds resulting in hereditary hatred. We should always follow truth and religion and fortune will shine upon us. If I was not there than the Pandavas and kaurauvas would only keep on fighting and nobody would be able to draw line. As being an elder I had rights and tried to stop them at when they went wrong. As I am an expert in archery, martial arts and political science I had a huge responsibility to teach and advise the king of Hastinapura. I was only one who was so great.

            It took me whole day to narrate what happened in the cursed life. We both were hooked to it. I wanted to know about other seven vasus’s and our wives current condition. Vashishta said they all are fine and you’ll soon meet them. I was enlightened to hear that. .I finally touched sage Vashishta’s feet thanked for his curse which taught me and others so much! I slowly and slowly vanished into the darkness. I left my impression on Vashishta and he did leave on me.