Bhishma — The Illustrious man of Mahabharata
Bhishma, born as Devavrata, was the eighth son of Ganga and King Shantanu and was the legal heir to the throne of Kuru dynasty. Ganga left Shantanu after the birth of Devavrata. King Shantanu eventually fell in love with a fisher woman named Satyavathi and wished to marry her. When King Shantanu approached Satyavathi’s father for her hand , he denied claiming that when Devavrata takes the throne Satyavathi and the children born to her will end up as slaves of Devavrata. Shantanu could not agree to this conditions and fell into deep sorrow.
Understanding his father’s predicament, Devavrata met Satyavathi and her father and to get the consent for the marriage he took a vow that he will never have the throne and will remain a Brahamachari ( will follow celibacy) life long. He also promised that his entire life will be dedicated to serve the throne of Kuru dynasty. Seeing that his daughter and her offspring will have the right to the throne Satyavathi’s father agreed for the marriage . For the sacrifice which Devavrata had given, he was named Bhishma ( he who took terrible oath) by Shantanu. Shantanu also blessed him with another wish that Bhishma can choose the manner and time of death and cannot be killed otherwise.
Although Bhishma stuck to his promises, Satyvathi started facing trouble in various forms. Her both sons , Chitranganda and Vichithraveerya, died at very young age. Vichithraveerya who was the heir to throne died without having any children with his wifes Ambika and Ambalika. Satyavathi had to persuade Bhishma from whom she had literally snatched the throne to have children with the widowed wifes . But retorted to her that he was stubborn to keep his vows. She had to then take the help of Saint Vedavyasa to get her grandsons to take the Kuru dynasty forward.
More troubles were in line for Satyavathi as her eldest grandson Dritharashtra was born blind and the younger grandson Pandu had to be crowned as the King. Pandu also died due to his own mistakes which led to Dritharashtra taking over as the King. This only paved for the great battle of Mahabharatha between the sons of Pandu ( Pandavas) and sons of Dritharashtra ( Kauravas) for the throne in which both sides lost heavily.
Even though Satyavathi and her father managed to get the throne safe for her neither she or her children were able to enjoy it. Mahabharata clearly gives the message that any achievement through wrong and materialistic means is short lived and it becomes the very reason for your downfall.The throne itself was the reason for the great battle and both sides lost their beloved sons, brothers ,Gurus and relatives.
Bhishma’s biggest concussion was that he had to witness the destruction of his own family and in the Mahabharata battle he had to lead the wrong side and could only bless the righteous side. Finally on the tenth day of the battle Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjuna and was lied on the bed of arrows in the battle field of Kurukshethra. Bhishma advised Yudhushtira Vishnusahasra nama (Thousand names of Lord Vishnu) from his death bed.
By strictly following his vows and with his ardent devotion towards Lord Krishna , Bhishma remains one of the illustrious personality of the epic Mahabharata.
