|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 32 – The legend of Lord Krishna – Bhishma Sthuthi

Yudhishtira who is the symbol of ‘Dharma’ speaks “Oh! Krishna, I do not want to rule this Kingdom of Hastinapura. I have attained this Kingdom after shedding the blood of my preceptors, brothers, relatives, companions, and youths, I cannot rule this country after watching the tears of grief of mothers, children, and elderly people of Hastinapura.” once again Krishna took Pandavas to the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

Bhishma Pithamaha who is the symbol of ‘selflessness’,  was born to Devi Ganga and King Shanthanu, immediately after the birth, had to sacrifice the happiness of love and affection of a father, stayed with mother and learned Astra and Shastra.   Later Devavratha returned to father, by that time his parents were out of their wedlock.  While living with father, understood King Shanthanu was in love with Devi Sathyavathi, if the marriage did not take place, his father will be heartbroken,  so he decided not to create any hindrance in their marriage, promised to follow celibacy all his life and refused the heir to the throne of Hastinapura, became one of the most revered ‘Bhishma Pithamaha’. He has to follow the orders of Devi Sathyavathi to bring appropriate bride for her son Vichithraveerya.   Bhishma forcibly brought the three daughters of King of Kashi to the Palace of Hastinapura. Amba refused to marry Vichithiraveerya was dropped to the palace of King Salya who is the lover of Amba has abandoned her.  Bhishma Pithamaha was publicly humiliated by Amba, promised to take his life for making her life miserable.  Further, Bhishma Pithamaha could witness various troubles and atrocities in the Kingdom of Hastinapura. King Pandu lost his life at a young age, his widowed wife Devi Kunthi, and five children returned to the palace. Dhritarashtra who was blind by birth took the ruling of the country, his hundred children were deceitful did not leave a single opportunity to harass the children of Devi Kunthi.  He had to keep quiet for all their unjustifiable deeds of Kaurava, miserably watching the righteous Pandavas going through various hardships in their life.  Bhishma Pithamaha had to witness all those unpardonable mistakes of Kauravas, treachery board game between Kauravas and Pandavas and the related incidents; Devi Dhraupadi cries before the assembly when she was publicly harassed by Duryodhana and Dhusshasana.  Bhishma Pithamaha had to watch the Pandavas exiled from the Kingdom of Hastinapura for twelve years and had to follow the command of Duryodhana while they were in disguise. Bhishma Pithamaha could not protect the Pandavas while they were plotted to kill in wax house by Duryodhana.  Krishna arrived as an emissary of Pandavas was fastened and harassed by the men of Duryodhana, in this way Bhishma Pithamaha was forcibly abiding to watch the atrocities of Kauravas, finally, he had to follow the order in the war zone of Kurukshetra to battle against his own children and Krishna.   In the battlefield, Shikhandi stood before Bhishma Pithamaha, that made him helpless,  Arjuna showered arrows on Pithamaha and he was lying on the bed of arrows waiting for ‘Swecchamrithyu’/death at one’s own desire.  He was one of the Bhagavathoththama elevated his soul to achieve the state of supreme bliss, that did not harm his mind and intellect in any of the adverse situations in his whole life, none of the undesirable deeds of Kaurava couldn't break him, because he was already united his soul with that supreme Bhramam while performing duties and responsibilities.