All the warriors have crowded around Bhishma. Duryodhana offers to get the best medical aid, save relieve Bhishma's pain. Bhishma says he is only waiting for the onset of Uttarayana kala in the month of thai or pausha when he would give up his life. Till then he would wait. As Duryodhana starts getting angry with Arjuna for causing Bhishma's affliction, Bhishma requests everybody to leave him alone and go back to their encampments. Duryodhana announces that the place be marked as being outside the war zone. He orders his soldiers to guard Bhishma so that wild animals do not disturb him.
Draupadi sheds tears to see Bhishma's plight. She regrets being the cause for this. Bhishma says she cannot stop the missile that has already left the archer's bow. He advises her not to harbour any feelings of guilt, as she is only an instrument for executing the schemes of the almighty God. He blesses Draupadi.
Shikhandi is the next to visit Bhishma. She cries that she has been instrumental in causing the downfall of the bravest patriarch. 
She has now realized his greatness after she saw that even the Pandavas responsible for the assault shed tears and the celestials rained showers of flowers from the sky. She regrets the mistake in holding Bhishma responsible for her miseries instead of blaming King Salva for rejecting her. Only after Bhishma's downfall did all the fury and vengeance stored in her mind leave her. Bhishma consoles her saying she is not at fault. Her experience is an example of how futile it is to attach too much meaning to empty vows and false egos.
Karna is shocked to hear the news that his son Vrishasena brings him. He is thoroughly shaken, and his wife Shubhangini is surprised that the news of Bhishma's downfall should cause so much agony to Karna, as it is known to everybody how much Bhishma despised and denigrated Karna on every possible occasion. Karna says Bhishma was a warrior beyond compare and he had great respect for him. He goes to the battlefield to visit Bhishma.
Bhishma addresses Karna as Kunti-putra. Karna is astounded. Bhishma says that he knew the secret of his birth and that was the reason for the roughness in dealing with him. He did not want the sons of the same mother should fight with each other. He always wanted Karna to join the righteous Pandavas, instead of supporting the evil designs of Duryodhana. By not supporting Karna, it was Bhishma's intention to drive him to the Pandava camp. Despite being Duryodhana's friend, Karna hasn't ever pointed out his mistakes and this has been a sore point for Bhishma. Bhishma requests Karna to continue to stand by Duryodhana and help him till his last breath.
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