Arjuna and Bhīṣma - The Transcendental Battle of Pure Devotees
The Battle of Kurukṣetra was not merely a political struggle for a kingdom; it was a grand stage set by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to display the unparalleled glories of His pure devotees. Among the most prominent figures in this divine drama were the great archer Arjuna and his invincible grandfather, Bhīṣmadeva. Śrīla Prabhupāda's commentaries reveal that the intense conflict between Arjuna and Bhīṣma was actually a sublime exchange of spiritual love, completely devoid of mundane enmity.
The Moral Dilemma on the Battlefield
As the armies assembled, Arjuna asked Kṛṣṇa to draw his chariot between the two phalanxes. Seeing his beloved grandfather Bhīṣma standing on the opposing side, Arjuna was overwhelmed by a deep moral crisis. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna was not acting out of malice or false prestige; he genuinely questioned the religious validity of killing such a respectable senior family member for the sake of a material kingdom.
- 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.
- 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.
- Krsna wanted to explain to Arjuna that by killing the body of his grandfather (Bhismadeva) he would not be killing the soul proper.
The Chivalrous Vow of Bhīṣmadeva
Once Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa's instruction to perform his duty, the fighting commenced with tremendous force. However, the envious Duryodhana accused Bhīṣmadeva of fighting leniently due to his affection for Arjuna. Insulted by this accusation, Bhīṣma unleashed his full martial prowess. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how the elderly general fought so ferociously that Arjuna, despite his own great power, was entirely overwhelmed and brought to the brink of death.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Forcing the Lord to Break His Promise
The climax of their battle revealed the deepest secrets of spiritual love. Bhīṣma had vowed to make Kṛṣṇa take up a weapon, while Kṛṣṇa had vowed to remain a non-combatant. Seeing Arjuna in mortal danger, Kṛṣṇa rushed at Bhīṣma with a broken chariot wheel. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa gladly broke His own promise to honor the promise of His devotee, and Bhīṣma uniquely relished this aggressive, loving feature of the Lord.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
The Final Passing of a Great General
When Bhīṣma finally fell, pierced by Arjuna's arrows, there was no resentment. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the ultimate conclusion of the battle: Arjuna was simply an instrument of Kṛṣṇa's will. As Bhīṣma lay on his deathbed of arrows, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, Arjuna, and Lord Kṛṣṇa approached him with absolute reverence. In his final moments, Bhīṣma expressed profound gratitude for the presence of Kṛṣṇa and His dear friend Arjuna.
- 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.
- 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.
- Bhisma said, "I was opposing Krsna's most intimate friend, Arjuna - I even tried to kill him! I have so many disqualifications, and yet the Lord is still so kind that He has come to see me at the last point of my life."
Conclusion
In conclusion, the encounter between Arjuna and Bhīṣmadeva transcends all material understanding of conflict. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully illustrates that their fierce exchange of arrows was actually a transcendental exchange of love between two pure devotees and their Supreme Lord. While Arjuna acted as the faithful instrument of Kṛṣṇa's mission to establish dharma, Bhīṣma exhibited the unique chivalrous mellow (vīra-rasa) of devotion, even forcing the Lord to break His own vow to satisfy the vow of His servant. This divine relationship culminated at Bhīṣma's passing, where he lay satisfied on his bed of arrows, having witnessed the beautiful feature of Lord Kṛṣṇa as Pārtha-sārathi. Ultimately, their story teaches that in the service of the Lord, there is no such thing as defeat or enmity; whether one appears as the victor like Arjuna or the fallen general like Bhīṣma, both are eternally glorified for their unflinching devotion and their role in the Lord's supreme pastimes.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Arjuna and Bhisma. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.