44 Facts About Bhishma

Bhishma was the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces during the Kurukshetra War mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Bhishma was the only character who witnessed the entirety of the Mahabharata, beginning from the reign of his father, King Shantanu of the Kuru kingdom.

Bhishma was the elder brother of the grandfather of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas, and a prominent statesman of the Kuru Kingdom.

Bhishma was born as the elder son of the illustrious King Shantanu and Ganga.

Bhishma was related to both the Pandavas and the Kauravas through his half-brother, Vichitravirya.

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Bhishma played a major role in the political affairs of the Kuru kingdom and participated in the Kurukshetra War on the side of the Kauravas.

Bhishma was given the name Devavrata at his birth, meaning one who is devoted to Gods.

Patronymics of Bhishma include Shantanava, Shantanuputra, Shantanusuta and Shantanuja.

Bhishma was the only surviving son of Shantanu, a king belonging to the lunar dynasty, and his first wife Ganga, a river goddess.

Bhishma fell in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage.

Bhishma saw a young man blocking the water currents with a dam made up of arrows.

Bhishma fell in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage from her father.

Bhishma started to avoid any company and spend his time in bed in grief and solitude.

Bhishma arranged the marriage of his nephews and tried to bring peace between his grand-nephews, the Kauravas and the Pandavas.

Text Harivamsa mentions that during the mourning period after Shantanu's death, Bhishma killed Ugrayudha Paurava, a statesman of Panchala kingdom who lusted for Satyavati and tried to buy her with wealth.

When Vichitravirya grew up, Bhishma decided to bring Amba, Ambika and Ambalika—the princesses of Kashi kingdom—and get them married to him.

Bhishma reached the kingdom and forcefully abducted the princesses, who were choosing their spouse in a Swayamvara.

Bhishma told her that he could not accept a woman, who was won by another man.

Bhishma went to the kings of several kingdom and tried to convince them to slay Bhishma; but none of them agreed.

Bhishma arrived at the place and offered his service to his teacher.

Bhishma had no offspring and the lineage was at the risk of extinction.

Satyavati persuaded Bhishma to marry the widows of Vichitravirya and rule as the king or at least impregnate them to produce an heir.

Bhishma then suggested that a sage could be hired to perform Niyoga.

Bhishma arranged the wedding of Dhritarashtra with Gandhari, the princess of Gandhara Kingdom.

Bhishma brought Madri for Pandu from Madra Kingdom and got Vidura married to the daughter of Devaka.

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Bhishma was despondent but Vidura consoled him and told them that the Pandavas were alive.

Bhishma suggested Yudhishthira give Krishna the highest place in the ceremony, but this enraged Shishupala—an enemy of Krishna.

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.

Bhishma was one of the most powerful warriors of his time and in history.

Bhishma acquired his prowess and invincibility from being the son of the sacred Ganga and by being a student of Lord Parashurama.

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 wouldn't kill any of the Pandavas.

Bhishma 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.

Bhishma fired arrows such that Arjuna and Krishna were both injured.

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.

Bhishma 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.

Bhishma was then felled in battle by Arjuna, pierced by innumerable arrows.

Bhishma asked Arjuna to give him a pillow fit for a warrior.

Bhishma 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.

Bhishma 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.

Bhishma did wait for about 58 nights for the winter solstice or first day of Uttarayana to give up his body on the arrow bed.

Bhishma's life has been made into many films in different Indian languages.