Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 33
भीष्म हि कुरुशार्दूलमुद्यतेषुं महारणे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bhīṣmaḥ hi kuruśārdūlam udyateṣuṃ mahāraṇe, śubhānane! tumhāre putra kuruśreṣṭha bhīṣma jab hātha meṃ dhanuṣ-bāṇa liye rahate, us samaya sākṣāt indra bhī unheṃ yuddha meṃ māra nahīṃ sakate the | ye to apnī icchā se hī śarīra tyāgakar svargaloka meṃ gaye haiṃ |
वैशम्पायन बोले—“शुभानने! जब कुरुश्रेष्ठ भीष्म महायुद्ध में धनुष-बाण उठाए खड़े होते थे, तब साक्षात् इन्द्र भी उन्हें रण में मार नहीं सकते थे। वे तो अपनी ही इच्छा से शरीर त्यागकर स्वर्गलोक को गए हैं।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights Bhīṣma’s extraordinary martial power and, more importantly, his self-mastery: his end was not forced by an enemy or even a god, but chosen by his own will. It frames death as an act aligned with personal resolve and dharma rather than mere defeat.
Vaiśampāyana explains to the addressed listener (“O fair-faced one”) that Bhīṣma, while armed and battle-ready, was invincible in ordinary combat—even Indra could not kill him. Bhīṣma ultimately left his body voluntarily and went to heaven.