"These arrows which have pierced me are Arjuna's. They cannot belong to Shikandi". Thus spoke Bhishma who was now wounded by Arjuna's arrows all over the body.
It was the 10th day of the war and as agreed, Shikandi was accompanying Arjuna on his chariot. Many battles do occur inbetween till the fall of Bhishma which is very well documented in the epic. I am not going to delve into that here.
Duryodhana's gave instructions to his commanders that Bhishma should be protected and every measure should be taken to ensure that Arjuna (with Shikandi in his chariot) should not be allowed to encounter directly with Grandsire. But who can stop what was ordained. During the course of the battle and despite various efforts from the kaurava camp, Krishna steered the chariot towards Bhishma.
Bhishma spotted them and was about to fire his arrows. At the time, he saw Shikandi accompanying Arjuna in the chariot. As per the rule he had laid for this war (as was also his principle), Bhishma stated, "Shikandi was not born as a man. She is a woman. Moreover, I can see Amba in her. It is Amba who has come back to try and kill me. I will not raise my arms on a woman." Thus, he kept his bow and arrows down. This opportunity was seized by Arjuna and Shikandi who fired arrows towards Bhishma. One of the arrows hit Bhishma's crown. Bhishma then took a shield and tried to protect himself with that. Arjuna fired a arrow towards his hand and made Bhishma drop the shield. Bhishma fell from the chariot following the rain of arrows. Arjuna was ashamed, sad and disgusted but kept on the attack. When it looked like a thousand arrows must have pierced Bhishma, he fell down and was lying on them. This is when he spoke the words praising Ajuna and dismissing Shikandi's role in his fall.
The fighting stopped and both the camp leaders (Kauravas and Pandavas) came towards the site where Bhishma was lying in his "bed of arrows". They were trying to pay his respect to the great one. Now Bhishma had the boon to die as per his will. So he chose to wait till Uttarayana as it is believed that on that day the doors of Vaikuntham (Vishnu's abode) is open for souls departing their earthly body.
Bhishma's head was not pierced with arrows and hence, he suggested for a headrest. Duryodhana ordered Dushashana to get pillows and he obliged. Bhishma spoke, "These pillows are not worthy of the bed I am on. Arjuna, please provide me with a headrest to support my head." Then Arjuna shot 2 arrows and it went to the ground near Bhisma's head in such a way that they acted like a headrest. Bhishma then requested for water. Legend has it that Arjuna chanted a mantra and then shot the bow towards the ground. Ganga herself sprang up in the form of a spring to quench her great son's thirst.
The battle was called off for that day with respect to Bhishma.
The bed of pillows, for me, often symbolises Bhishma's life to me. His entire life he did not get peace as he was always on the fence. He was living a Kshatriya's life but was leading a Bhrahmin life due to his vows. he did not have any possessions, no kin but yet had to look after his step-brothers and then their kin. He also had to see them almost kill each other. More on his character, when he dies. The time for that is yet not come. With Bhishma's fall, a new commander-in-chief was to be selected for kauravas and another great charioteer will join them- Karna. But before that, Karna comes to Bhishma to pay his meeting in the middle of the night when there is no one else.
It was the 10th day of the war and as agreed, Shikandi was accompanying Arjuna on his chariot. Many battles do occur inbetween till the fall of Bhishma which is very well documented in the epic. I am not going to delve into that here.
Duryodhana's gave instructions to his commanders that Bhishma should be protected and every measure should be taken to ensure that Arjuna (with Shikandi in his chariot) should not be allowed to encounter directly with Grandsire. But who can stop what was ordained. During the course of the battle and despite various efforts from the kaurava camp, Krishna steered the chariot towards Bhishma.
Bhishma spotted them and was about to fire his arrows. At the time, he saw Shikandi accompanying Arjuna in the chariot. As per the rule he had laid for this war (as was also his principle), Bhishma stated, "Shikandi was not born as a man. She is a woman. Moreover, I can see Amba in her. It is Amba who has come back to try and kill me. I will not raise my arms on a woman." Thus, he kept his bow and arrows down. This opportunity was seized by Arjuna and Shikandi who fired arrows towards Bhishma. One of the arrows hit Bhishma's crown. Bhishma then took a shield and tried to protect himself with that. Arjuna fired a arrow towards his hand and made Bhishma drop the shield. Bhishma fell from the chariot following the rain of arrows. Arjuna was ashamed, sad and disgusted but kept on the attack. When it looked like a thousand arrows must have pierced Bhishma, he fell down and was lying on them. This is when he spoke the words praising Ajuna and dismissing Shikandi's role in his fall.
The fighting stopped and both the camp leaders (Kauravas and Pandavas) came towards the site where Bhishma was lying in his "bed of arrows". They were trying to pay his respect to the great one. Now Bhishma had the boon to die as per his will. So he chose to wait till Uttarayana as it is believed that on that day the doors of Vaikuntham (Vishnu's abode) is open for souls departing their earthly body.
Bhishma's head was not pierced with arrows and hence, he suggested for a headrest. Duryodhana ordered Dushashana to get pillows and he obliged. Bhishma spoke, "These pillows are not worthy of the bed I am on. Arjuna, please provide me with a headrest to support my head." Then Arjuna shot 2 arrows and it went to the ground near Bhisma's head in such a way that they acted like a headrest. Bhishma then requested for water. Legend has it that Arjuna chanted a mantra and then shot the bow towards the ground. Ganga herself sprang up in the form of a spring to quench her great son's thirst.
The battle was called off for that day with respect to Bhishma.
The bed of pillows, for me, often symbolises Bhishma's life to me. His entire life he did not get peace as he was always on the fence. He was living a Kshatriya's life but was leading a Bhrahmin life due to his vows. he did not have any possessions, no kin but yet had to look after his step-brothers and then their kin. He also had to see them almost kill each other. More on his character, when he dies. The time for that is yet not come. With Bhishma's fall, a new commander-in-chief was to be selected for kauravas and another great charioteer will join them- Karna. But before that, Karna comes to Bhishma to pay his meeting in the middle of the night when there is no one else.
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