Bhishma runs in his mind all the incidents that took place since his mother Ganga handed him over to Shantanu, including the vow to facilitate his father's marriage to Satyavati, his promise to Shantanu to keep Hastinapur undivided, his refusal to accede to Vidura's suggestion to divide Hastinapur between Duryodhana and Yudhishtra, Draupadi's disrobement by Dushshasana after Yudhishtra loses in the game of dice, Pandavas' exile, and the replies that Bhishma, Drona and Vidura give to Krishna when he categorically asks them which side they would join in the war. Krishna had categorically asked whether they wanted to be on the winning side of the war or on the side of dharma. Krishna expressed his surmise that Bhishma was bothered more about the accusations that may be hurled on him for following dharma; but whichever path he chose, the allegations were sure to follow. He gave the example of Vibhishana, who opposed his brother Ravana, supported Rama for representing a just cause, but earned brickbats from everyone for being disloyal to his own brother. Bhishma also recalls the incident when he confronted Krishna and wanted to know if it was inevitable that he be killed by the eunuch Shikhandi. Krishna had explained then that Shikhandi (Amba) had received a boon from Subramanya that he would kill Bhishma. That promise had to be kept.
Copious tears flow from Bhishma's eyes as he recalls his parents once again.
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