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 |
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—“اے خوش رُو! جب کُروؤں کے سردار بھیشم مہاران میں کمان و تیر اٹھائے کھڑے ہوتے تھے، تو خود اندر بھی جنگ میں انہیں قتل نہیں کر سکتا تھا۔ وہ تو اپنی ہی مرضی سے بدن چھوڑ کر سوَرگ لوک کو گئے ہیں۔”
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.