In The Kurukshetra War Bhishma

arjuna fight bhishma

in great battle @ kurukshetra, bhishma supreme commander of kaurava forces ten days. fought reluctantly on side of kauravas. bhishma 1 of powerful warriors of time , in history. acquired prowess , invincibility being son of sacred ganga , being student of renowned gurus. despite being 5 generations old, bhishma powerful defeated warrior alive @ time. every day, slew @ least 10,000 soldiers , 1,000 rathas. @ beginning of war, bhishma vowed not kill of pandavas, loved them, being grand-uncle. duryodhana confronted bhishma alleging not fighting kaurava camp wouldn t kill of pandavas. did not allow of kauravas killed in war, loved grand-nephews , wanted peace negotiation.

duryodhana approached bhishma 1 night , accused him of not fighting battle full strength because of affection pandavas. angry bhishma took vow either kill arjuna or make lord krishna break promise of not picking weapons during war. on next day there intense battle between bhishma , arjuna. although arjuna powerful, no match bhishma. bhishma shot arrows cut arjuna s armour , gandiva bow s string. arjuna helpless before wrath of grand-uncle. bhishma kill arjuna arrows, sri krishna took vow of not raising weapon in war, lifted chariot wheel , threatened bhishma. arjuna stopped lord krishna. arjuna convinced krishna return chariot , put down wheel, promising redouble determination in fight. bhishma fulfilled vow.

the war locked in stalemate. pandavas mulled on situation, krishna advised them visit bhishma himself , request him suggest way out of stalemate. bhishma loved pandavas , knew stood greatest obstacle in path victory , when visited bhishma, gave them hint how defeat him. told them if faced 1 had once been of opposite gender, lay down arms , fight no longer.

later krishna told arjuna how bring down bhishma, through of sikhandhi. pandavas not agreeable such ploy, using such cheap tactics not following path of dharma, krishna suggested clever alternative. , thus, on next day, tenth day of battle shikhandi accompanied arjuna on latter s chariot , faced bhishma put bow , arrows down. felled in battle arjuna, pierced innumerable arrows. using sikhandhi shield, arjuna shot arrows @ bhishma, piercing entire body. thus, preordained (mahadeva s boon amba cause of bhishma s death) shikhandi, is, amba reincarnated cause of bhishma s fall. bhishma fell, whole body held above ground shafts of arjuna s arrows protruded back, , through arms , legs. seeing bhishma lying on such bed of arrows humbled gods watched heavens in reverence. silently blessed mighty warrior. when young princes of both armies gathered around him, inquiring if there do, told them while body lay on bed of arrows above ground, head hung unsupported. hearing this, many of princes, both kaurava , pandava alike brought him pillows of silk , velvet, refused them. asked arjuna give him pillow fit warrior. arjuna removed 3 arrows quiver , placed them underneath bhishma s head, pointed arrow tips facing upwards. quench war veteran s thirst, arjuna shot arrow earth, , jet stream of water rose , bhishma s mouth. said ganga herself rose quench son s thirst.