Bheeshma: Why He Did Not Marry?

We all know about the epic tale of Mahabharata, where Bheeshma, the Pitamaha, played a significant role and taught us the lessons on sacrifice (Bhishm Pratigya). He was not just a great warrior but also a great human being. But do you all know why he did not marry? Here, let’s discuss about it in detail.

Who was Bheeshma/Devavrata?

Bheeshma, also known as Pitamaha, Devvrata, Gangaputra, Gauranga, and Mahamina, was the eighth son of King Shantanu of the Kuru Dynasty and the Eldest Kuru during the Mahabharata War. Bheeshma was born to Shantanu and Ganga. But he did not spend his childhood in his father’s Palace, which has a long story behind it. So, reader, are you curious to know about it? Let’s discuss this in brief.

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Bheeshma: Childhood of Pitamaha

When Shantanu asked Ganga for marriage, she said yes, but on the condition that he would never ask her where she would come from or where she would go. Their marriage went well, and Ganga gave birth to many children. However, she carried her children to the Ganges and threw them in the river, angered the king. Her husband stopped her when she was about to do the same with her eighth child. This broke Ganga’s heart, and she carried the child with her.
Bheeshma/ Devavrata spent his early life with his mother, Ganga, in Devaloka and was educated for 16 years. As a child, he was brilliant at learning various skills. He learned skills from different Gods, Political Science from Brihaspati, the art of weapons from Parshurama, and Dandaneeti from Shukra. He was a devoted son to his parents.

Bheeshma: A Great Warrior

Bheeshma was a great warrior and the eldest member of the Mahabharata War. Although he grew old, he did not fail to defeat any warrior because Parshuram taught him. Also, in this war, he was the commander of the Kaurava forces for ten days.

Also, do you know what made him so powerful? Let’s find out quickly. As Bheeshma was a devoted child to his father and took a vow for him (Bhishm Pratigya), his father gifted him Iccha-—Mrityu, which means easy death. He got the boon of not getting killed by any weapon. Besides, he got divine blessings and wisdom. Also, his archery skills were excellent, and he shot wisely and accurately.

Arjuna shot his arrow towards Bheeshma and paralysed him in the Mahabharata War. Despite being in such a painful condition, he chose not to die until the sun was in the south direction. When the sun came in the North direction, he died passing the Vishnu Sahashranama to Yudisthira.

Bheeshma: The Self-less Sacrifice

Bheeshma was renowned for teaching us the value of sacrifice in our lives. This great human sacrificed his marriage for his father, Shantanu, who fell in love with a lady named Satyawati, whom he saw on the river Ganges’s banks. Bhishma’s father, Shantanu, fell in love with the lady and gave her his marriage proposal. Satyawati’s father agreed, but on the condition that Satyawati’s children would become rulers of the throne.

Why Did Bhishma Not Marry?

Shantanu denied this, but Bheeshma vowed (Bhishm Pratigya) to serve Brahmacharya and satisfy his father’s needs. By taking this vow, Bheeshma denied marital pleasures and became known as Bheeshma. Shantanu did not accept such a strict vow for his son but finally admitted it, and he gifted him Iccha-Mrityu in return. 

This created problems in Bheesma’s life as he refused to marry Amba, th eldest and the beautiful daughter of King Kashya. As Bheeshma refused to marry Amba, she cursed him to kill him in his next life. Because of this, he did not marry in his lifetime and served his kingdom and family as a Brahmachari.

Also, when Satyavati’s son Chitrangada died childless, despite being the kingdom’s ruler, he made Vichitravirya (Satyavati’s youngest son) a king to rule the kingdom.

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Importance of Nishkama Karma

By sacrificing marriage, Bheeshma taught one Nishkama Karma. As Nishkama Karma means performing your duties without thinking about the fruits, Bheeshma sacrificed ( took Bhishm Pratigya) marital pleasures for his father’s satisfaction and happiness. He thought about his family and who would rule the kingdom. As a Brahmachari, he left such pleasures and happiness and thought about his family and Kingdom.

He was the son of Ganga, so he gained a good knowledge of archery and education. He got blessings from the gods, served the kingdom honestly, and fought against his family’s enemies with power. His vital wisdom was a reason for his selfless action for his father, and he became known as Bheeshma.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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