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Vyasa
Bhishma is a son of the river spirit Ganga, an elder in the Kuru lineage, and one of the most formidable commanders of the Kaurava army. Although he allies himself with Duryodhana, he maintains respect for the Pandavas, and he grants Yudhishthira permission to fight him before the war starts. He is celibate and cares deeply about acting honorably, but he is also a fierce warrior who kills many of the Pandava warriors. Able to choose the date of his own death due to a boon, he lives in a state of near-death for many months after Arjuna fells him on the battlefield. During this time, he imparts his wisdom to Yudhishthira, discussing morality over the course of almost two full books of the poem. Bhishma represents the wisdom of elders and becomes a mouthpiece to explain some important religious tenets of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Bhishma Quotes in Mahabharata
The Mahabharata quotes below are all either spoken by Bhishma or refer to Bhishma . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 9. Salya
Quotes
Seeing these most wonderful happenings, and the honour paid to Duryodhana, the Pandavas felt ashamed; they grieved mightily to hear it said that Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Buriśravas had been killed unfairly. But Krishna, seeing them anxious and downcast, proclaimed in a voice sounding like thunder or drums, ‘Duryodhana here with his swift weapons, and those other valiant chariot-fighters, could not have been slain by you on the battlefield in a fair fight. That is why I devised these stratagems, lords of men—otherwise the victory of the Pandavas could never have happened.’
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12. Tranquility
Quotes
Bhishma agrees to expound his knowledge, but insists that it must be Yudhishthira who questions him. Krishna explains that Yudhishthira is filled with shame and fears Bhishma’s curse, but Bhishma insists that the killing even of relatives and elders is in accord with the Kshatriya dharma.
Chapter 13. Instruction
Quotes
Bhishma replies that nothing can grow if no seed is sown: one should practice austerities, give gifts, abstain from violence and live virtuously, for this is what will determine one’s future condition.
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Bhishma Quotes in Mahabharata
The Mahabharata quotes below are all either spoken by Bhishma or refer to Bhishma . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 9. Salya
Quotes
Seeing these most wonderful happenings, and the honour paid to Duryodhana, the Pandavas felt ashamed; they grieved mightily to hear it said that Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Buriśravas had been killed unfairly. But Krishna, seeing them anxious and downcast, proclaimed in a voice sounding like thunder or drums, ‘Duryodhana here with his swift weapons, and those other valiant chariot-fighters, could not have been slain by you on the battlefield in a fair fight. That is why I devised these stratagems, lords of men—otherwise the victory of the Pandavas could never have happened.’
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12. Tranquility
Quotes
Bhishma agrees to expound his knowledge, but insists that it must be Yudhishthira who questions him. Krishna explains that Yudhishthira is filled with shame and fears Bhishma’s curse, but Bhishma insists that the killing even of relatives and elders is in accord with the Kshatriya dharma.
Chapter 13. Instruction
Quotes
Bhishma replies that nothing can grow if no seed is sown: one should practice austerities, give gifts, abstain from violence and live virtuously, for this is what will determine one’s future condition.
