Bhishma Rests On the Bed of Arrows : Episode 141

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Recap of Previous Episode :

Bhishma grants his life to preserve dharma. Iravan sacrifices himself after marrying Krishna in female form. Shakuni secretly awaits Bhishma’s fall. Mother Ganga blesses her son and removes his inner torment. Arjuna prepares to face Bhishma with Shikhandi beside him as the armies take position for the crucial tenth day.

Shikhandi Confronts Bhishma

The tenth day of the war begins. Krishna steers Arjuna’s chariot directly toward Bhishma. Seeing them approach, Bhishma lifts his bow to shoot, but withdraws his hand the moment he sees Shikhandi standing in front. He refuses to fight in the presence of someone he believes to be a woman.

Shikhandi shoots multiple darts at Bhishma, but they are not strong enough to penetrate his armour deeply. Bhishma drops his bow and arrow, announcing he will not lift weapons against Shikhandi. With intense hatred and rage from his past, Shikhandi releases a fierce volley, and then hands his bow to Arjuna.

Arjuna Strikes

Arjuna now takes command of the assault. He shoots arrows rapidly and relentlessly, covering Bhishma’s entire body until no inch remains untouched by shafts. Bhishma groans in pain and steps down from his chariot, staggering on the battlefield.

The Warriors Watch in Silence

The armies on both sides stop fighting and stare at the scene in awe. Tears fill Arjuna’s eyes as he continues to shoot. Duryodhana and Dushasana are stunned beyond words. Only Shakuni watches in secret triumph, remembering his vow to avenge his father’s suffering at Bhishma’s hands. The celestials shower flowers from the sky as Bhishma falls.

Bhishma on the Bed of Arrows

Bhishma’s body is now fully covered with arrows, forming a raised bed. He expresses deep happiness that his beloved Arjuna is the one who has struck him down. He asks for a pillow of arrows to support his head, and Arjuna fulfills the request. Bhishma then asks for Ganga water; Arjuna shoots an arrow into the earth and a fountain gushes forth into Bhishma’s mouth.

Grief in Hastinapura

Sanjaya narrates every detail to Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Both break down in sorrow, and the entire kingdom sinks into grief.

Reflection

Is Krishna’s role in Bhishma’s fall aligned with dharma, or does it carry shades of strategic manipulation?

For a more detailed discussion in Tamil: Click

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