The Fall of Bhisma
Part 2 / Chapter 12 / 83 chapters
The Fall of Bhisma
On the tenth day the Pandavas place at their front, protected by and . Knowing that the day may be his last, makes a final, devastating assault. shoots him without reply while repeatedly urges forward. declares that he has repaid through ten days of slaughter and will now either destroy the Pandavas or fall. twice checks 's advance, while reads the omens and sends Asvatthama with the Kaurava chiefs; holds them off. kills Virata's brother and continues fighting hundreds of attackers. After strips away his chariot and weapons, hears urge him to stop, but he makes one last assault before destroys his final lance and bow. Seeing directly before him, at last lowers his weapons. 's arrows, mingled with 's, cover his body so completely that he falls without touching the earth, suspended on an arrow bed. remains alive by his boon, choosing to wait until the sun turns north. celebrates, while soberly offers an arrow as a pillow; recognizes too late that his own insistence has caused 's fall, and both armies gather around the living elder.
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.
- 1
takes the front
At sunrise on the tenth day, the Pandavas put at the head of their array with and guarding him. Their whole strategy is directed toward reaching .
- 2
makes his final assault
Knowing he may fall, fights with supreme force and kills thousands as he tears into the Pandava host. Even veteran warriors struggle to approach him.
- 3
will not answer
repeatedly pierces and challenges him, but smiles and refuses to return a single shaft. stays close and urges not to falter.
- 4
declares his debt repaid
says ten days of slaughter have fulfilled his promise to . He resolves that this day he will either destroy the Pandava force or fall before it.
- 5
checks
meets 's advance with an unexpectedly fierce defense. wounds him and forces him away, but returns a second time to protect .
- 6
reads the fatal omens
sees his weapons trembling and celestial signs around . Convinced the commander will fall, he sends Asvatthama with Salya, Krpa, Bhagadatta, and other chiefs to support him.
- 7
holds back the Kaurava chiefs
intercepts the warriors rushing to and fights them together. His stand creates the opening and need to close on the commander.
- 8
kills
Still fighting hundreds of attackers, kills Virata's beloved brother with a razor-headed shaft and destroys his chariot division.
- 9
strips away 's defenses
cuts down 's bows as fast as he raises them, kills his horses and charioteer, brings down his standard, destroys his weapons, and shields from every warrior trying to interrupt the attack.
- 10
urge to stop
After destroys his chariot and weapons, accepts that 's presence makes victory impossible and hears urge him to withdraw his heart from battle. Yet when struck again he resolves on one last assault, fires another volley, and hurls a final lance, which destroys.
- 11
falls onto an arrow bed
Seeing directly before him, finally lowers his weapons and does not resist 's attack. and cover him with arrows, though identifies 's shafts as the blows that truly pierce him. He falls without touching the earth, held above it by the arrows through his body.
- 12
chooses to await the northern sun
dances in triumph, while soberly approaches and asks what needs. Using his boon to choose the time of death, elects to remain alive until the sun turns north; gives him an arrow pillow and refuses medical treatment. is consumed by remorse, recognizing that his insistence caused the war and 's fall, as warriors from both armies gather peacefully around the elder.