Mahabharata Companion

Bhisma's Vow

Part 2 / Chapter 9 / 83 chapters

Chapter9 / 35
Part 2Chapter 9

Bhisma's Vow

Far from the main battle, holds off 's Samshaptakas with conventional weapons. News of 's death leaves him grieving and questioning the value of the war, but he returns to the fighting. again defeats and wounds , who goes to for reassurance. urges him to make step aside so that he can enter the war, though privately remembers his promise to spare four Pandavas. heals 's wounds, only to be accused again of protecting the brothers. Insulted, consecrates five irresistible arrows and vows to kill the five Pandavas the next day; takes the arrows into his own keeping. In Yudhisthira's tent, the king grieves that even victory will fill the earth with widows while senses a desperate Kaurava scheme. comforts , reveals the five-arrow danger, and recalls the boon promised him after the Gandharva rescue. enters the Kaurava camp and claims the five arrows. Bound by honor, gives them up, then wonders whether and Vidura were right about .

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This guide follows Krishna Dharma's retelling as the source of truth. This panel notes broad edition-level framing or compression that helps a reader orient themselves.

The crisis is resolved not by a stronger weapon but by an old debt. Krishna Dharma emphasizes that Duryodhana's ksatriya honor remains real enough to save the Pandavas even while his pride keeps the war alive.
Key Events
  1. 1

    contains the Samshaptakas

    On the southern edge of the field, 's warriors keep away from . refuses needless celestial force and holds them off repeatedly with ordinary arrows from the Gandiva.

  2. 2

    learns that is dead

    A messenger reports 's death. sits down in grief and wonders what pleasure can come from a kingdom bought with his son's life, but he knows the battle cannot now be abandoned.

  3. 3

    wounds again

    Back in the central battle, defeats and leaves him bloodied and nearly senseless. Jayadratha attacks while Krpa moves onto his own chariot and carries him away.

  4. 4

    asks to step aside

    seeks in camp and admits his fear that the army is being ground down. promises to fight if is removed, though he knows his vow to Kunti prevents him from killing four of the brothers.

  5. 5

    heals

    has physicians clean 's wounds and personally applies the Himalayan herb vishalyakarini, removing the pain before hearing the prince's complaint.

  6. 6

    consecrates five fatal arrows

    When again accuses him of favoring the Pandavas, consecrates five arrows with his ascetic power and vows that they will kill the five brothers the next day.

  7. 7

    guards the arrows

    Worrying that may devise a countermeasure, takes the arrows to his own quarters and guards them overnight. Certain Devavrata never breaks a vow, he believes the Pandavas doomed.

  8. 8

    recalls 's debt

    first comforts the grieving , assuring him that has reached blessed realms and urging him back to duty. He then reveals the five arrows and recalls that promised a boon after the Gandharva rescue, telling him to claim that debt now.

  9. 9

    claims the five arrows

    enters the Kaurava camp in friendship and asks for the consecrated arrows. Shocked but bound by his earlier promise, places all five in 's hands. After says revealed the arrows, is left wringing his hands and wondering whether and Vidura were right about .