The Story of the Birth of Bhishma Pitamah, One of the Greatest Warriors of India
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Bhishma Pitamah, also known as Devavrata, is one of the most important and greatest characters of the Mahabharata. His birth and life hold a special place in Indian mythology. Bhishma Pitamah's birth is associated with a divine and unique story, which shows his greatness and valor. This story begins with the love story of King Shantanu and Ganga.
The Meeting of King Shantanu and Ganga
King Shantanu was the emperor of Hastinapur. He was the son of King Pratipa. He was famous as a brave, pious and just king. One day, Shantanu went to the forest for hunting. There he saw an unparalleled beauty on the banks of the river Ganga, who appeared as beautiful and calm as the water of the river Ganga, draped in clothes. Shantanu was fascinated by her beauty and proposed marriage to her.
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The woman was actually Goddess Ganga, who came to earth. Ganga accepted Shantanu's proposal, but put a condition. The condition was that Shantanu would never interfere in any of her work nor ask her any question, if Shantanu ever interfered in any of her work then she would leave him immediately. Shantanu, who was completely in love with Ganga, accepted this condition and the two got married.
Goddess Ganga's Abandonment of Children
King Shantanu was very happy to have married Goddess Ganga. Shortly after the marriage, Goddess Ganga gave birth to a son. Shantanu was on his way to Goddess Ganga's room to see his son, when he came to know from the maid that Goddess Ganga had gone to the forest with her son. Shantanu, worried and curious, followed Goddess Ganga. In the forest, Maharaj Shantanu was stunned to see that Goddess Ganga drowned his newborn son in the mighty current of the river. Maharaj Shantanu wanted to save his son, but he was constrained due to the promise given to Goddess Ganga, so he silently watched his son die and returned with a heavy heart.
With time, Goddess Ganga gave birth to six more sons, all of whom were drowned in the river current in the same manner. Shantanu, who had promised his wife that he would not interfere in any of her work, was very sad to see this situation, but he kept his word and did not question Ganga.
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When Goddess Ganga gave birth to the eighth son and tried to drown him in the river, Shantanu lost his patience. He was so upset by his wife's action that he broke his promise and stopped Goddess Ganga from doing this and said to her - Goddess Ganga, you have killed my seven sons one by one but I will not let you kill this eighth son. What a cruel mother you are who is killing your own sons.
Story of Bhishma's previous birth and curse
Goddess Ganga said, I have not killed our sons, rather I have freed them from the curse. Maharaj Shantanu asked what kind of curse - tell me the whole story in detail.
Goddess Ganga said - Maharaj, these eight sons of ours are the same eight Vasus, who have a higher status than the gods of heaven. In the previous birth, all of them had tried to steal the divine cow Kamdhenu from the ashram of Rishi Vasishta. When Rishi Vasishta came to know about this, he cursed all of them to be born as humans on earth. All the Vasus apologized to Rishi Vasishta and requested him to free them from the curse.
Sage Vashishtha felt pity for all of them and said - Seven of you Vasus will be freed immediately after taking birth as humans, but the one who led this theft will have to spend his entire life as a human only after that he will be freed.
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Goddess Ganga said - All of them had requested me for freedom from the curse, then I had promised them that I will give them freedom from this curse immediately after giving birth to all of them. I freed the seven Vasus from their curse one by one. But after the birth of this eighth son, you broke your promise and stopped his freedom. Now this eighth son of yours will have to live his entire life, this is the same eighth Vasu, whom Sage Vashishtha had cursed to live in human form for the longest time.
Maharaj - You have broken your promise so I have to leave you now, I am taking this son of yours with me. When the time comes, I will return him to you. Saying this, Goddess Ganga returned to heaven with her son.
Education of Devavrata
Goddess Ganga named her son Devavrata and sent him to the Devas and Rishis for his early education. Brihaspati, the Guru of the Gods, imparted him the knowledge of the Vedas, and a great Guru like Parashurama taught him the art of warfare. Devavrata mastered the Vedas, scriptures, politics and religion and soon became one of the greatest warriors of his time. Devavrata, who later became famous as Bhishma Pitamah, was an extraordinary child.
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Bhishma's Pledge
Devvrata's life became more important when he took a great pledge that made him Bhishma Pitamah. This pledge was his great sacrifice for the love and kingdom of his father King Shantanu. This pledge was as follows:
When Shantanu wished to marry a fisherwoman named Satyavati, Satyavati's father put a condition that only Satyavati's son would become the king of Hastinapur, this condition left Shantanu in a dilemma. Devvrata, who could go to any extent for his father's happiness, proposed Satyavati's father to accept the condition of marriage. He took a pledge that he would not only renounce the throne of Hastinapur but also follow celibacy throughout his life and never marry, so that Satyavati's sons would not face any kind of challenge in the future.
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Due to this great sacrifice and pledge, Devvrata came to be known as "Bhishma", which means "one who takes a fierce vow". The gods were pleased with his unique sacrifice and gave him the boon of ichchhamrityu. According to this boon, Bhishma will remain alive as long as he does not call for death himself.
Conclusion
The birth and life of Bhishma Pitamah is an important part of the Indian epic Mahabharata. He was born as a god, and showed his unparalleled devotion to dharma, renunciation, and duty throughout his life. His vows, his renunciation, and his sacrifice made him immortal in history. The life of Bhishma Pitamah teaches us that true heroes are those who stay true to their dharma and duties, no matter how difficult the circumstances are.
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