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 |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「麗しき面影の御方よ。大戦において、クル族第一のビーシュマが弓矢を掲げて立つとき、たとえインドラその人であっても戦いの中で彼を討つことはできなかった。彼はただ自らの意志によって身を捨て、天界へと赴いたのだ。」
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.