Bhīṣma Parva Introduction
Bhīṣma Parva Introduction
Bhīṣma Parva is the sixth parva in the epic Mahabharata. It describes the first ten days of the Kurukshetra War under the leadership of Bhīṣma.
The following are the words of Bhīṣma, when he was made the Commander-in-Chief by Duryodhana, before start of the war.
नैव हन्यां स्त्रियं जातु न स्त्रीपूर्वं कथञ्चन ॥
स हि स्त्रीपूर्वको राजञ्शिखण्डी यदि ते श्रुतः ।
कन्या भूत्वा पुमाञ्जातो न योत्स्ये तेन भारत ॥
I have sworn never to harm a woman or anyone who was once a woman. You should know, O king, that Śikhaṇḍī was born as a girl before being transformed into a man. I will not fight him.
During the 10 days of war, Bhīṣma used to avoid fighting with Śikhaṇḍī and if they had come face to face, Bhīṣma did not discharge arrows on Śikhaṇḍī.
Hence, on the tenth (10) day, Arjuna, keeping Śikhaṇḍī in front of him, kills Bhīṣma.
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