Pathya Pustak Bal Mahabharat ke देवव्रत ke kathin shabd likhiye Hindi
Answers
Explanation:
.
Bhishma
Mahabharata character
Statue of Bhishma.jpg
Statue of Bhishma standing on a chariot.
In-universe information
Aliases
Devavrata, Gauranga, Gangaputra, Pitamaha
Gender
Male
Weapon
Bow & arrows, sword, mace
Family
Shantanu (father)
Ganga (mother)
Satyavati (step-mother)
Vichitravirya (half-brother)
Chitrāngada (half-brother)
Home
Hastinapur
Originally named Devavrata, he was made the heir-apparent of the kingdom. However, he ceded his rights for his father's happiness and took the vow of lifelong celibacy. Because of this terrible oath, he came to be known as Bhishma and was blessed to live as long as he wanted. He played a major role in the political affairs of the Kuru kingdom and participated in the Kurukshetra War from the side of Kauravas. On the eleventh day of the war, the Pandava prince Arjuna, with the help of Shikhandi, pierced Bhishma with numerous arrows and paralysed him on a bed of arrows. After spending fifty-one nights on the arrow bed, Bhishma left his body on the Uttarayana (winter solstice). Before his death, he handed down the Vishnu Sahasranama to the emperor Yudhishtira.
Bhishma has a large significance in the Hindu culture. Each year his death anniversary is celebrated as Bhishma Ashtami, which falls on the eighth lunar day of the Shukla (light) half of Bhishma's birth and youth are mainly narrated in the Adi Parva book of the epic. He was the only surviving son of Shantanu, a king belonging to the lunar dynasty, and his first wife Ganga, a river goddess. It is believed that he was the avatar of a Vasu named Dyu, alias Prabhasa.[7]
According to the legend, Shantanu, the youngest son of the king Pratipa and the king of Kuru kingdom, was on a hunting trip, when he saw a beautiful woman on the banks of the river Ganga. He fell in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage. The lady agreed to his proposal but with one condition that he will never question her actions; and if this condition was broken, she would abandon him. Shantanu accepted it and lived a happy marital life with her. However, when a child was born, the queen used to drown him in the river Ganga. One by one, seven sons were born and drowned, while Shantanu remained silent because of his commitment. When she was about to throw the eighth child into the river, Shantanu, unable to control himself, stopped her and confronted her about her actions. After hearing Shantanu's harsh words, the woman revealed herself to be the goddess Ganga and justified her actions and narrated the following story.[8][2]
Once the celestial Vasus and their wives were enjoying themselves in the forest when the wife of Dyu spotted an excellent cow and asked her husband to steal it. The cow was Nandini, daughter of the wish-fulfilling cow Surabhi, and was owned by the sage Vashishtha. With the help of his brothers, Dyu tried to steal it but Vashishtha caught them and cursed them to be born as mortals and suffer a miserable life. Upon their pleading, Vashishta showed mercy and told the other seven Vasus that they will be liberated soon after their birth. However, Dyo being the protagonist of the theft was cursed to endure a longer life on the earth. Before the birth of her sons, Ganga was requested to kill the seven children soon after their birth.[9][2] Hearing this, Shantanu was filled with grief and regrets and Ganga decided to abandon him as her condition was broken. Before disappearing, she promised Shantanu to return his heir.[8]
Ganga handling her son Devavrata to his father. Print by BP Banerjee.
Ganga named her son Devavrata and took him to different loka (realms), where he was brought up and trained by many eminent sages.[10][11][12]
Brihaspati: The son of Angiras and the preceptor of the Devas taught the duties of kings (Dandaneeti), or political science and other Shastras.
Shukracharya: The son of Bhrigu and the preceptor of the Asuras also taught Devavrata in political science and other branches of knowledge.
The sages Vashishtha and Chyavana taught the Vedas and Vedangas to Devavrata.
Sanatkumara: The eldest son of the god Brahma taught Devavrata the mental and spiritual sciences.
Markandeya: The immortal son of Mrikandu of Bhrigu's race who acquired everlasting youth from the god Shiva taught Devavrata in the duties of the Yatis.
Parashurama: The son of Jamadagni trained Bhishma in warfare.
Indra: The king of the Devas. He bestowed celestial weapons on Bhishma.
Years later, Shantanu was roaming on the banks of the Ganga and observed that the water of the river had turned shallow. He saw a young man blocking the water currents with a dam made up of arrows. Shantanu recognised his son because of the similarities and begged Ganga to return him. Ganga appeared in a youthful form and handed her son to Shantanu as per her promise. The young Devavrata was known as Gangadatta as he was handed over by Ganga.