Shloka 33
भीष्म हि कुरुशार्दूलमुद्यतेषुं महारणे,'शुभानने! तुम्हारे पुत्र कुरुश्रेष्ठ भीष्म जब हाथमें धनुष-बाण लिये रहते, उस समय साक्षात् इन्द्र भी उन्हें युद्धमें मार नहीं सकते थे। ये तो अपनी इच्छासे ही शरीर त्यागकर स्वर्गलोकमें गये हैं
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 उवाच—शुभानने! यदा भीष्मः कुरुशार्दूलो महारणे धनुर्बाणमुद्यतं धारयति, तदा साक्षादपि इन्द्रः संयुगे तं हन्तुं नाशक्नोत्। स तु स्वेच्छया देहं त्यक्त्वा स्वर्गलोकं जगाम।
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.