The Bhishma Parva () ("Book of Bhishma") is the sixth of the eighteen parvas (books) of the Indian epic Mahabharata. It has 4 sub-books and 124 chapters.Ganguli, K.M. (1883-1896) "Bishma Parva" in The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (12 Volumes). Calcuttavan Buitenen, J.A.B. (1973) The Mahabharata: Book 1: The Book of the Beginning. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, p 477Debroy, B. (2010) The Mahabharata, Volume 1. Gurgaon: Penguin Books India, pp xxiii - xxvi
The Bhishma Parva describes the first 10 days of the 18-day Kurukshetra War and its consequences. It recites the story of Bhishma, the commander in chief of the Kauravan armies, who is fatally injured and loses his ability to lead.Dutt, M.N. (1897) The Mahabharata (Volume 6): Bhishma Parva. Calcutta: Elysium Press This book of the Mahabharata includes the widely studied Bhagavad Gita, sometimes referred to as Gita, or The Song of the Lord, or The Celestial Song. Chapters of the Bhagavad Gita describe Arjuna's questioning of the purpose of war, the ultimate effects of violence, and the meaning of life.Dahlsgaard, Peterson, & Seligman (2005), Shared Virtue: The Convergence of Valued Human Strengths Across Culture and History, Review of General Psychology, 9(3), pages 203-213Bhaktivedanta, A.C. (1968) The Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. Collier Books. Arjuna's doubts and metaphysical questions are answered by Krishna.J.A.B. van Buitenen (1981), The Bhagavadgita in the Mahabharata - A Bilingual Edition, The University of Chicago Press, Other treatises in the Bhishma Parva include the just war theory in ancient India, as well as strategies and tactics. The book describes the deaths of Uttar (brother-in-law of Abhimanyu and brother of Uttara), the wife of Abhimanyu, and also Bhishma's fall, respectively on the 1st and 10th days of the war. Karna did not fight in these first ten days, on Bhishma's orders.
Structure and chapters The Bhishma Parva traditionally has 4 upa-parvas (parts, little books) and 124 adhyayas (chapters).Bhishma Parva The Mahabharata, Translated by Manmatha Nath Dutt (1897)
Karna-khanda Vinirmana Parva Karna suggests the Kauravas and Hastinapura to fight on the land of Kurukshetra.
The Parva begins with a meeting of two sides where the rules of war are agreed upon. Rishi Veda Vyasa, the grandfather to both Kauravas and Pandavas, offers the gift of sight to King Dhritarashtra – who is blind – so he can foresee the tragedy about to unfold. Dhritarashtra declines the offer, claiming he does not want to witness the slaughter of his family and friends. Vyasa then offers a celestial vision to Sanjaya, to have knowledge of everything, manifest or concealed, even thoughts. While the war was in progress weapons would not harm him. He will describe the war to blind Dhritarashtra.John Murdoch (1898), The Mahabharata - An English Abridgment, Christian Literature Society for India, London, pages 74-85 Vyasa then makes a final attempt at appealing to Dhritarashtra, to seek peace and avoid the war. Dhritarashtra confides that his sons do not listen to him. Vyasa counsels that war is evil, victory in war is uncertain, and only sorrow and slaughter on all sides is certain, no matter who wins.
Bhumi Parva Sanjaya continues to describe the world. He mentions island nations, nations without kings, lands with white people, black people, mixed-race people, celestial gems, an ocean of milk, and ghee. Then he describes the planets seen at night, why they are believed to be globes, that the light-giving sun, too, is a very large sphere according to calculations of Arka, with eclipses occurring when planets temporarily cover the sun or moon. Such is the merit of the world we live in, says Sanjaya.
Bhagavad-gita Parva Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya for the details of the war over the ten days. Sanjaya describes how Bhishma marshaled the Kaurava army by declaring, "to die at home is a waste of life, a chance to die in battle for a cause is the highest honor a man can have." Arjuna described the Kaurava army as one with 100,000 elephants trained for war, 1 million chariots, 1 million horsemen, archers, and soldiers with swords and shields. Learning about this vast army, Yudhishthira is filled with grief. Arjuna reminds him that Narada told him that where there is Dharma there is Krishna and where there is Krishna there is victory. Arjuna believed that Vedas were told by God that to attain godhood, one must become a monk by leaving home and birth-caste. As Krishna had demanded five villages for settlement so Arjuna asks his charioteer Krishna whether he should become a monk or fight (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 1, Shloka 36).
Arjuna asks Krishna to bring the chariot between the two assembled armies, to see who were assembled to fight. He sees family and friends on both sides. Introspectively, Arjuna wonders if their cause justifies the bloodbath. War only kills, it arouses only hate among human beings. Arjuna tells Krishna, "I seek neither victory nor a kingdom." Arjuna doubts whether war is ever justified. To Arjuna's doubts, Krishna gives various answers. These answers range from the nature of life to the demands of justice, to the three paths of liberated and free life, to human duty, and are collectively called the Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna allows Arjuna to view his extraordinary, divine form. Arjuna apologizes for not being able to recognize him as divine, and for the disrespect he had shown, if he had said anything carelessly in the past, and regards Krishna as a friend. Beholding Arjuna taking up his divine bow Gandiva, the Pandavas utter a tremendous shout. Then come the gods with Indra, with the desire of witnessing the great slaughter to come.
Just before the war, Yudhishthira takes off his armor, comes down off his chariot, and, in namaste pose, walks over to the enemy's side. His brothers, amazed by his act, join him and walk across the no man's land separating the forces. Yudhishthira, with his brothers, meets and bows before the enemy generals and their preceptors—Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and Shalya—one by one, to seek their permission and blessings to fight them to the death. Bhishma, moved by this humane action, says he admires their humanity and wishes them to obtain victory. Yudhishthira asks him, how shall they, in battle, vanquish him. Bhishma refuses by saying his time is not yet come. Then he goes to Drona with the same desire. Drona blesses him with victory and says, as long as he fights, they cannot vanquish him. Then he goes to Kripa with the same intent. Kripa, too, blesses him and says it is difficult to slay him. At last to Shalya, and reminds him of the boon he granted, to weaken, in battle, the energy of Surya's son Karna. Shalya says he will look after his victory and his wish shall be realized. With choked voices and tears, their soldiers cheer the Pandava brothers for their obeisance and show of respect for the enemy. Yudhishthira and the Pandava brothers return to their side. Vasudeva goes to Radha's son and asks him to come to his side as long as Bhishma is not slain. Karna said he will not do anything disagreeable to his friend. Hearing these words of Karna, Krishna ceases and heads back to his side. Yuyutsu, moved by Yudhishthira's speech, abandons his Kaurava brothers and goes over to the Pandava side. Yudhishthira joyfully accepts. The conches signal the start of the war.
Bhishma-vadha Parva 1st day of war
On the first day, flying arrows cover the sky and a cloud of dust obscures the sun. The twang of bowstrings and battle cries of the two sides creates a tempest of sound. Arjuna goes against Ganga's son. Satyaki rushes against Kritavarma. Duryodhana struggles in the battle against Bhima. Dushasana rushes against Nakula. Yudhishthira himself encounters Shalya, the ruler of Madra. Dushtdyumna rushes against Drona. Ghatotkacha and Alamvusha, both Rakshashas, encounter each other. Sikhdandin rushes against Drona's son, Ashvatthama. Bhagadatta battles Virata. Drupada rushes against Jayadratha. And a general engagement took place between all others. In that frightful and terrible battle, Bhishma causes divisions of Pandavas to waver. Bhishma, protected by five mighty car-warriors, penetrates the Pandava host. Abhimanyu, in wrath, resists all those car-warriors. In that fierce combat, the mighty Bhishma aims many low-level, air-borne celestial weapons at Abhimanyu, who is then protected by ten great bowmen and car-warriors, with Bhima, Dhrishtadyumna, and Satyaki among them. Uttara engages Shalya, cripples Shalya's chariot. Shalya then hurls an iron dart, slaying Uttara outright. Sweta beholding his brother slain, blazes up in wrath and rushes with the desire of slaying Shalya.
Sweta kills hundreds of Kaurava noble princes. Bhishma seeing this destruction impetuously rushes to that side, against Sweta. In that battle, both destroy each other's chariots, cut their bows, and pierce each other. When Bhishma gets the advantage in the fight, there come to Sweta's rescue many car-warriors, with Satyaki, Bhima, Dhrishtadyumna, and Abhimanyu among them. Bhishma checks all those car-warriors alone, until Drona, Kripa, and Shalya come to aid Bhishma, who then takes out an arrow, nocking and powering it with Brahma energy, releases it with such a force that it pierces through Sweta armor and body, and sticks into the earth. Arjuna slowly withdraws his Pandava troops from that side. Later, Virata's son, Sankha, rushes, with the desire to slay Shalya. Bhishma comes roaring to that side, against a trembling Pandava host. Then, Arjuna, to protect Sankha from Bhishma, quickly places himself in front of him and engages Bhisma. Bhishma destroys Sankha's car, and Arjuna retreats towards Drupada, the king of the Panchalas. Bhishma kills numerous Pandava soldiers. The conches and drums blare to mark the end of that day's war, and both sides withdraw their troops. Duryodhana is filled with delight, beholding Bhishma in battle. Whereas Yudhishthira is filled with grief and consults Janardhana. He consults the commander of his army, Dhrishtadyumna, to change the array of his army, in the name of Krauncharuma, for the next day.
2nd day of war
On the second day, conches blare the restart of war. Bhishma shows his terrible prowess by showering arrows upon Abhimanyu, Arjuna, Virata, Dhrishtadyumna, and many others, and causes the mighty array of the Pandavas to waver. Car divisions of the Pandavas begin to fly away. Then Arjuna, beholding Bhishma annihilating his host, angrily tells Krishna to proceed to that place where the grandsire is, to slay him. Sanjaya comments about who else saves Bhishma, Drona, and Karna are capable of advancing in the battle against the bearer of Gandiva and have a chance against him. Arjuna encounters a group protecting Bhishma and battles with them. Satyaki, Virata, Dhrishtadyumna, five sons of Draupadi and Abhimanyu come to support him. Duryodhana demands that Bhishma do something about Arjuna. Battle commences between both parties, with Bhishma against Arjuna. Arjuna was not fighting a war with all his power, because his wish was not to hurt his beloved grandsire, so the duel lasts for a long time, with neither of them vanquishing the other.