Bhishma the terrible

Mahabharata Adiparva Sambhavaparva section 95-99
Sri Sadgurbhyoh namah

Once upon a time there was a king named Mahabisha, who performed many pious deeds and was welcomed in the company of celestials and Brahmaji. In that meeting he stared with lust upon Ganga (River Ganges). He and ganga were cursed to be born on earth. Ganga too was thinking about Mahabisha when she saw 8 vasus coming. She enquired why they look so dejected. They explained that they are cursed to be born as men by Sage Vasishta. She then agrees to be their mother.

Mahabisha was born to king Pratipa with name Santanu. Once, while hunting, Santanu sees Ganga, and marries her agreeing to her condition that he will not object to whatever she says.

Time passes happily, and Ganga becomes pregnant with Santanu's child. As soon as the child is born , she drowns it in River ganga. This happens 7 times. When she was about to drown 8th child, Santanu objects to that and asks her, who is she , and why is she doing such a heinous act of killing one's own children.

She tells him that she is Ganga (a.k.a Jahnavi) , the children are cursed Vasus, and she has let them escape the curse by drowning them. The 8th child will live for a long time taking upon the curse of other 7 vasu brothers. King Santanu asks "what was the curse, who cursed them?" .

Ganga tells him the story of Vasus' curse.

Sage Vasishta had a wish yielding cow named nandini. The 8 vasus while drunk, approached the ashram of Vasishta. The youngest vasu named Dyu, on the goading his wife, has stolen the cow. Vasishta has cursed them to be born among men. Upon their begging and repentence of their act, the Sage says "Since it is Dyu who has stolen the cow, he can take upon himself your curse and you shall be freed from your curse within 1 year of your birth. The curse on Dyu will be relieved if he avoids female company and remains childless". It is because of that the 8th child will have a long life on earth.

Saying this Ganga takes the 8th child named Gangadatta a.k.a Gangeya, Devavrata and Bhishma. She rears him till he attains adulthood. He studies all Vedas with Vasishta. He studied under Jaamadagni (Parasu Rama) and becomes skilled in warfare, archery, and astras. Ganga returns her son to Santanu.

Once, Santanu smells Satyavati (fisherwoman, formerly matsyagandhi, now yoganagandhi due to the boon of Parasara maharshi) from a distance of yojana. Upon seeing her, he desires to marry her. But, the chief of fisherfolk sets a condition that the son born to Satyavati should be made king.

King Santanu returns to his palace, but lost in thoughts of Satyavati. Seeing his father dejected, Devavrata comes to know of the reason from his old minister. Devavrata goes to the chief of fisherfolk along with his chiefs of army and other kshatriyas.

Chief of fisherfolk reiterates his demand that son of Satyavati should be made king, on hearing this Devavrata renounces his right to the throne. But the chief of fisherfolk insists that Devavrata's children might become kings after him. To this, Devavrata says "I take a vow of lifelong Brahmacharya(renunciation, meditation etc) , renouncing worldly pleasures, marriage and throne".

Flowers, blessings are showered from heaven, celestials on hearing this vow, and they name him 'Bhishma (terrible)'.

Peace

Prasad