Sun may leave its warmth, water may leave its moisture, the moon may leave its coolness, but Bhishma will not leave his fast for the sake of the kingdom of the three worlds or even greater happiness. The Ashtami of Shukla Pasht of Magh month is celebrated as Bhismastami. This is said by the great Bhishma, who pledged to remain unmarried.
Bhismastami Vow of Celibacy
Bhismastami real name was Devrat. Shantanu and his first wife- Ganga. Once on his hunting trip, king Shantanu arrived at the banks of river Ganga. While returning, he encountered Satyavati-the, the daughter of Haridas. Shantanu got attracted to her at a single glance.
King Shantanu went to Haridas to get his blessings for them. Still, the father refused to give his blessings and said, “My king, your eldest son is Devrat, who is the successor to the throne. If you announce my daughter’s son to be the successor to the throne, then only I will marry my daughter to you”. King Shantanu refused to accept this condition. Even after a passage of time, the king could not get Satyavati out of his mind.
Upon seeing his father in distress, Devvrat asked him about his worries. After knowing the whole story, Devvrat himself went to Haridas and told him, “Satvavati’s son will be the successor to the throne because I am willing to give up my right to the throne.” But the father questioned him and told him that he believes in his words, but his concern is that his children will ask for their right to the throne after his marriage. To make Haridas secure, Devrat pledged to remain unmarried throughout his life and will lead the life of a Saint. His words started to echo in the sky, and the deities showered him with flowers while chanting the name ‘Bhishm.’ This sacrifice was unusual, and that’s why his name ‘Bhishma’ got so famous, which means firm. After that king, Shantanu gave his son the boon of desire for death.
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An Ardent Devotee of the Lord
Bhismastami was a believer of Vishnu and was truly devoted to Lord Krishna. He knew long before that the Pandavs would have the victory if the war ever occurred because Lord Krishna was with the Pandavs. God’s plan is such that even if there is a great master on the wrong side, his defeat is certain, and similar happened in the war. Bhishma alone came like thunder, and within a day, he successfully attacked a huge part of the Pandava army. Pandava army had the best archer Arjun, the strongest Bheem, Yudhishthira, the Bravehearts Nakul and Sahdev, and the great fighter Dhrishtdumn, none of them dared to come in front of Bhishma. This was his place on the battlefield, and it was evident that if he continued to fight like this, the Pandavas would soon be defeated. But Bhishma told Duryodhan that he could defeat anyone, but he would not kill the Pandavas- the five brothers because the Lord himself is their protector.
Bhisma’s Heroic End
On the other hand, Lord Krishna told the Pandavas that they would have to meet Bhishma at night and ask his permission to kill him, and he will be the one telling them how he would be killed. This was difficult for the Pandavas because Bhishma was their loving grandfather- Pitamaha and other than Lord Krishna, only Vidur and Bhishma were their true benevolent. Ultimately when they visited Bhishma with a heavy heart asked him his desired death, his face glowed, and he told them that he was waiting for this moment for long. He told them the whole story of Shikhandi and instructed Arjun to kill him with his arrow. He told Arjun, “You will bring Shikhandi in front of me, and I will not shoot him with my arrow, and then you have to keep him in front of you and shoot me with your arrow.” Bhishma happily told them that he wanted to leave his body. He knew that he was not this body but a mere soul. He wanted to go in his grace, and that’s why he used that opportunity and told the Pandavas his desired death the next day; Arjun did what was told to him even when initially he was resistant in killing him, but then Bhishma himself told Arjun to kill him firmly, and so he did.
As strong as a mountain, Bhishma was lying on the bed of arrows, and he was alive during the whole battle of Mahabharat because he wanted to see his Lord’s face while leaving his body. For this, he resisted the harsh cold weather and the filthy battlefield and waited for his Lord. In the end, Lord Krishna came along with Yudhishthira because he wanted to show the whole world the glory of his devotee Bhishma.
An Exemplary End
Bhismastami who is the son of the Salvatore, the forgiving- Ganga, the Bhishma who lived his whole life as a Saint to serve his father, the one who defeated every warrior ever at least 21 times, the one who is not only a warrior but a great Saint as well who mastered the knowledge of scriptures from Parashurama, Devguru Brihaspati and Shukra Charay, the one the Pandava army feared the most because they knew that he could easily defeat them anytime, the one for whom the Lord himself broke his pledge and lifted the wheel of the chariot. Through Yudhishthira, the Lord wanted to warn the coming generations, and utmost he wanted to fulfill Bhishma’s wish of being with him in his last moments. From there, we get Lord Krishna’s image and the Pandavs greeting Bhishma. Bhishma’s departure from this world is exemplary. Death is certain for all, and hence an ideal life is not about dodging death, but an ideal life and death is about only dying once in life, and this is only possible when in one’s last moments the person remembers the Lord.
In Bhagvat Geeta Lord says, “Ant kale chamemeve, smaran muktava taleveram“.
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Meaning – The one who remembers me in their last moments goes in my grace. That person is never born in this material world again, but for this, one has to chant God’s name, pray with the devotees, always remember God’s words and actions, and worship the Lord in the temple. By doing all this, we can always feel the presence of God in our life so that while dying, we’d be able to remember God.
Teachings From The Life Of Bhishma Deva
For centuries, Bhishma’s departure from the world is an ideal because it encourages us to feel the presence of the divine at the time of death and inspires the development of such a consciousness at all times. Such exemplary principles, such divine love that is beautiful and inspirational, are exemplary. So on this Bhishma, take inspiration from the great Bhishma and choose some of his nectar points and make this human life successful.
Sri Sri Rukmani Dwarkadhish Ki Jai
