MB09-Amba finally takes her revenge!

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Having come to know about Bhishma’s decision not to confront Shikandi, or Amba in her previous birth, both sides, Kauravas as well as Pandavas were charting out their way ahead.

Kauravas made every arrangement that Shikandi was eliminated before he got any chance to encounter Bhishma. All major warriors from the Kaurava side always kept an eye on Shikandi.

On the other side, Krishna advised Pandavas to use Shikandi as a shield to vanquish Bhishma, who otherwise seemed to be invincible. Arjuna was not too happy with this plan of Krishna. Nor were other Pandavas.

But they had no choice. Bhishma was slaying their warriors relentlessly and it appeared that very soon, all of them would be wiped out. Only way out was to kill Bhishma.

So, Arjuna confronted Bhishma by taking shelter behind the vengeful Shikandi. Bhishma just smiled at Arjuna’s helplessness. The Kaurava warriors tried in every possible way to eliminate Shikandi. But other Pandavas stood guard, and provided shelter to Shikandi.

Shikandi moved on, joyfully thinking that finally he got an opportunity to take the revenge against Bhishma. He kept challenging Bhishma. But Bhishma totally ignored him and did not retaliate. Even when Shikandi shot arrows at Bhishma, Bhishma stood unperturbed without responding to his attacks.

Krishna pressed on Arjuna to shoot arrows at Bhishma who stood without any self-defense. Arjuna knew Bhishma’s predicament, and he hesitated to attack Bhishma, taking Shikandi as a cover. He felt that it was unjust to attack that way.

Finally, on Krishna’s insistence, Arjuna showered arrows onto almost unarmed Bhishma who did not want to attack Shikandi who was providing a cover to Arjuna. Bhishma’s entire body was pierced by Arjuna’s arrows. But Bhishma smilingly continued to face Arjuna. He did not fight back in the manner he would have otherwise fought, if Shikandi were not in the picture.

At last, the great invincible warrior Bhishma fell down from the chariot with his entire body stung by hundreds of arrows shot by Arjuna. His body was not touching the earth since the arrows that projected from his body prevented that. It was as if he was held up by a bed of arrows. There was extreme pain. But Bhishma kept smiling.

Shikandi rejoiced at the fulfilment of his revenge. Arjuna was remorseful of the deceitful act he was forced to do. Krishna was relieved by the fact that the bloody massacre of innocent people was at last coming to an end!

There was panic in the Kaurava camp. They were shocked to see the invincible Bhishma succumbing to Arjuna’s arrows. They declared ceasefire, at least for some time. All ran towards Bhishma who lay on a bed of arrows.

But Bhishma was not dead. Afterall, he had a boon from his father that he would die only when he wanted. Bhishma did not want to die at that time since he felt that the time was not auspicious. He waited for the auspicious time.


The extreme pain caused by the arrows that pierced all his internal organs was so great that, Bhishma could not even open his eyes. He put himself into deep meditative state for some time, unable to bear the pain.

After sometime he opened his eyes and signaled all those gathered around him to come close to him. He apologized to Duryodhana for not being able to keep up his promise to vanquish the Pandavas. He advised him to forget all enmity and makeup with Pandavas and give them their rightful share in the Kingdom. He advised him to stop the bloody war which could only end up in complete destruction.

Bhishma also consoled Arjuna who stood remorseful laden with guilt. Bhishma told Arjuna that Arjuna had done his duty and there was nothing wrong in whatever he did. He praised Arjuna to boost up his morale.

Kauravas immediately summoned surgeons and physicians to extract arrows from Bhishma’s body and treat Bhishma. But Bhishma refused to accept any medical care and sent back the physicians and surgeons.

Bhishma said he would continue to lie on the bed of arrows till the auspicious time for his final departure came. He sent back all the mourning warriors except Karna.

When all the warriors left the place, Bhishma summoned Karna close to him. He spoke to him with great love and sympathy. He had a last-minute confession to make. Bhishma told Karna that he never hated him or looked down upon him.

He disclosed that he always knew that Karna was the eldest of the Pandava brothers, whom their mother Kunti had forsaken long back. So, there was no reason to look down on him as someone born in a low caste. Bhishma convinced Karna that the only reason he was discouraging Karna was that Karna sided with the evil Duryodhana.


Now,

Do you really feel that Bhishma was a wrong doer? He did whatever he did just to fulfill his duty and to keep his word. He never hated anyone. He fought, not out of vengeance but to do his duty. In a way he was a true Karma yogi who did what he had to, without bothering about the fruits of his action, in a completely detached way.

Was Arjuna wrong in attacking Bhishma taking shelter from behind Shikandi? Was it not cowardice? Yes, he was reluctant and repentant. But does that absolve him of the wrong he did? Or was he wrong at all?

Or do you blame Krishna on whose behest Arjuna did whatever he did? Can the God incarnate break the rules of the war and be unfair? He even went to the extent of killing Bhishma single handedly! Was he right?

Who was right? who was wrong? Just ponder over it.

That was Mahabharata episode 09

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Based on the 5000 year old Indian Epic namely Mahabharata. © Dr.King  2019.