After repeated ‘insults’ from Duryodhana, Bhishma started fighting the war with all his might. Pandavas realized that unless Bhisma was removed from the war, they couldn’t win. Yudhisthir recollected that Bhisma, once promised him that when time comes, he himself will give the secret of killing Bhisma to Yudhisthir- when he went to Bhisma to seek his permission for the war.
So, Yudhistira visits Bhishma’s camp at night of the 9th day asking him for help, to which Bhishma says that he would not fight a eunuch.
On the tenth day, the Pandavasput Shikhandiin front of Bhishma, as Bhishma has taken a vow not to attack a woman. Shikhandi was a woman, but due to a boon granted to her in her previous life as Amba, she had the power to transform herself as aenunch for a day.
Arjuna positioned himself behind Shikhandiand aimed his arrows at the weak points in Bhishma’sarmour. Soon, the great warrior fell from his chariot but his body did not touch the ground as it was held airborne by the arrows protruding from his body.
Then the Kauravas and Pandavas gathered around Bhishma and Arjuna placed three arrows under Bhishma’s head to support it.
Bhishma used the boon of Iccha Myithyu (Self-wished death) as he promised his father, King Shantanu, that he would live until Hastinapur were secured from all directions and was in safe hands.
After the war, when Hastinapur had become safe from all sides and was under the rule of Yudhisthirand after giving lessons on politics and Vishnu Sahasranama to the Pandavas, Bhishma died on the first day of Uttarayana. (First day of Sankranti- January 14)
By: Archa Dave
