Category:Arjuna and Bhisma
Theme Analysis
The interactions between Arjuna and Bhīṣma on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra provide some of the most profound theological lessons in the Vedic literature. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna's initial refusal to fight was not born of cowardice, but of genuine compassion and respect for his venerable grandfather, Bhīṣmadeva, and his teacher, Droṇācārya. However, this magnanimity was based on the bodily concept of life. Lord Kṛṣṇa firmly instructed Arjuna that true religious duty must surpass mundane family affection, reminding him that the soul is eternal and that by killing Bhīṣma's physical body, he was not destroying the actual person. This dilemma set the stage for the supreme philosophical discourse of the Bhagavad-gītā.
Once the fighting began, the transcendental nature of both warriors was fully displayed. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how Duryodhana accused Bhīṣma of showing favoritism toward Arjuna. Angered by this criticism, Bhīṣma made a fierce vow to either kill Arjuna or force Kṛṣṇa to break His promise not to take up weapons. In the ensuing clash, Bhīṣma's military prowess was so overwhelming that Arjuna was nearly defeated. To protect His dear friend, Kṛṣṇa charged at Bhīṣma with a chariot wheel. Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully points out that Kṛṣṇa broke His own promise specifically to keep the promise of His pure devotee, Bhīṣma. During this intense combat, Bhīṣma was able to relish the magnificent, angry feature of Kṛṣṇa as Pārtha-sārathi (the chariot driver of Arjuna) even more than Arjuna himself could. Ultimately, their conflict was completely free from material hatred; when Bhīṣma lay dying on a bed of arrows, Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa, and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira gathered around him in absolute reverence to hear his final instructions, proving their eternal, loving relationship.
- The Moral Dilemma: Arjuna was deeply conflicted about killing his highly respected grandfather, demonstrating noble but materially bound compassion.
- The Fierce Combat: Goaded by Duryodhana, Bhīṣma fought with such unmatched intensity that Arjuna was defeated and his life was placed in imminent danger.
- Kṛṣṇa's Intervention: The Lord willfully broke His own vow of non-combat to uphold the vow of His devotee Bhīṣma, highlighting the supreme nature of pure devotional service.
- Transcendental Relish: Despite fighting on opposing sides, Bhīṣma and Arjuna remained eternal associates. Bhīṣma uniquely relished Kṛṣṇa's military feature during the battle and expressed deep gratitude to Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa at his passing.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna and Bhīṣma - The Transcendental Battle of Pure Devotees.
Pages in category "Arjuna and Bhisma"
The following 23 pages are in this category, out of 23 total.
A
- After all these tribulations, there was the great Battle of Kuruksetra, and Arjuna had to meet such great generals as Drona, Bhisma and Karna, all powerful fighters
- Arjuna as a ksatriya should not abandon his duty out of fear that his grandfather and teacher - Bhisma and Drona - will die in the battle. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna might argue that he would give up the battle on the grounds of his magnanimous attitude for the most respectable Bhisma and his relatives, but Krsna considered that sort of magnanimity not approved by authority. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna was also saved by the Lord, although all dangerous weapons were employed by his great opponents like Bhisma
- Arjuna was behind the beautiful Partha-sarathi while Bhismadeva was just in front of the Lord (Krsna). As far as the military feature of the Lord is concerned, Bhismadeva observed this with more relish than Arjuna
- Arjuna was defeated by Bhismadeva, and Lord Krsna saved him from the danger. This was not an insult for Arjuna because Bhismadeva was far superior to Arjuna in all ways, namely age, respect and strength
- Arjuna was then advised by God to fight and take credit; otherwise the party of Duryodhana would be killed anyway by the will of the Lord. Arjuna was advised just to become the agent and take the credit for killing great generals like Bhisma and Karna
- Arjuna, Krsna and numberless friends, admirers, relatives and sages had gathered on the scene as Maharaja Yudhisthira took moral and religious instructions from the dying Bhisma
- As far as the military feature of the Lord is concerned, Bhismadeva observed this with more relish than Arjuna
- As it was evident from the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, all the executive heads of both parties, like Drona, Bhisma, Arjuna and Duryodhana, were not sleeping; all of them were actual participants in the fighting
- At that time (Bhisma about to kill Arjuna) Lord Krsna wanted to please His devotee, Bhisma, by keeping Bhisma's promise, which was more important than His own. Seemingly He broke His own promise
D
- Duryodhana criticized Bhismadeva, alleging that he was reluctant to kill Arjuna because of paternal affection
- Duryodhana was satisfied, and he kept the arrows with him to be delivered the next day during the fight. By tricks Arjuna took the arrows from Duryodhana, and Bhismadeva could understand that this was the trick of Lord Krsna
H
- He (Arjuna) could see persons like Bhurisrava, who were his father's contemporaries, grandfathers Bhisma and Somadatta, teachers like Dronacarya and Krpacarya, maternal uncles like Salya and Sakuni and brothers like Duryodhana
- He (Arjuna) was considering whether respectable persons such as Bhisma and Drona should be killed or not, so he was not acting under the influence of anger, false prestige, or harshness. BG 1972 purports
- He (Bhisma) lamented that although the whole Pandava family was headed by King Yudhisthira, the most pious king, and protected by the two great warriors Bhima and Arjuna
I
- In pastimes His (Krsna's) associates like the Pandavas and Bhisma are constant eternal companions. So Bhismadeva never forgot the beautiful feature of the Lord as Partha-sarathi, which even Arjuna could not see
- In the beginning of Bhagavad-gita Arjuna was worried about killing Bhisma and Drona, his worshipful grandfathers and masters. But Krsna said that he need not be afraid of killing his grandfather. BG 1972 purports
- In the next day's fighting Bhismadeva fought so violently that both Arjuna and Krsna were in trouble. Arjuna was almost defeated; the situation was so tense that he was about to be killed by Bhismadeva the very next moment
O
- On the battlefield Arjuna could see all kinds of relatives. He could see persons like Bhurisrava, who were his father's contemporaries, grandfathers Bhisma & Somadatta, teachers like Dronacarya & Krpacarya, maternal uncles like Salya & Sakuni. BG 1972 p
- One day Bhisma, in order to nullify Krsna's promise, exhibited his fighting spirit so magnificently against Arjuna that Krsna was obliged to get down from His chariot