Bhishma Leads the Kaurava Army – The First Days of Kurukshetra
The Bhagavad Gita had ended.
Arjuna had picked up his Gandiva.
Krishna was ready to guide him.
Now there was no turning back.
The great Kurukshetra War had begun.
On the Kaurava side, the first commander of the massive army was Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty.
1. Bhishma Becomes Commander
Duryodhana had great confidence in Bhishma.
Bhishma was one of the greatest warriors of his time.
He had immense experience and knew the strengths and weaknesses of the Kuru warriors.
Duryodhana therefore appointed Bhishma as the commander of the Kaurava army.
Bhishma accepted the responsibility.
But there was one important condition.
He would fight for the Kaurava side, yet he would not kill the Pandavas.
2. The First Day of War
The armies formed their battle formations.
Warriors blew their conches.
The battlefield shook with the sound of weapons, horses and war elephants.
The first day of the Kurukshetra War began.
Arjuna, Bhima and the other Pandava warriors entered the battle.
Bhishma fought with extraordinary power.
His arrows moved across the battlefield like a storm.
3. Bhishma’s Power on the Battlefield
Bhishma was extremely difficult to stop.
He attacked the Pandava army with great speed.
Many soldiers were defeated by his weapons.
The Pandavas realized that Bhishma’s presence was going to be one of their greatest challenges.
Even though Bhishma loved the Pandavas, he was bound by his duty to the Kuru throne.
He continued fighting.
4. Arjuna Faces Bhishma
Arjuna was forced to fight the grandfather he respected deeply.
This was emotionally difficult for him.
Bhishma also loved Arjuna.
Yet both warriors understood their responsibilities on the battlefield.
Their arrows clashed.
The battlefield became filled with the sound of their weapons.
Krishna guided Arjuna’s chariot through the intense battle.
5. Krishna Becomes Angry
During the battle, Bhishma fought with tremendous power.
Arjuna was not attacking Bhishma with his full strength because of his emotional attachment to him.
Krishna became frustrated.
He felt that Arjuna needed to fight with determination.
At one point, Krishna became so angry that he jumped from the chariot and moved toward Bhishma.
He appeared ready to attack.
6. Bhishma Welcomes Krishna
Bhishma was not frightened.
Instead, he was filled with devotion.
He welcomed the sight of Krishna approaching him.
Bhishma had immense love and devotion toward Krishna.
Arjuna quickly stopped Krishna and requested him to return to the chariot.
Krishna calmed down.
The moment demonstrated the intense emotions surrounding the war.
7. The Battle Continues
The fighting continued for several days.
Both sides suffered enormous losses.
The Pandavas fought with determination.
The Kauravas fought under Bhishma’s leadership.
Duryodhana became increasingly concerned.
Although the Kaurava army was larger, the Pandavas were fighting with great skill.
Duryodhana wanted Bhishma to defeat the Pandavas quickly.
8. Duryodhana Questions Bhishma
Duryodhana became frustrated with the progress of the war.
He believed that Bhishma was not fighting with enough determination against the Pandavas.
Bhishma was deeply offended by this accusation.
He reminded Duryodhana that he was fighting with all his strength.
Bhishma then promised to fight even more fiercely.
9. Bhishma’s Devastating Attack
Bhishma entered the battlefield with renewed determination.
He attacked the Pandava forces with tremendous power.
The Pandava army struggled to withstand him.
Many warriors were defeated.
The Pandavas understood that they needed a strategy to stop Bhishma.
Simply fighting him directly was not enough.
10. The Secret About Bhishma
The Pandavas knew that Bhishma had an important weakness.
He had taken a vow that he would not fight a person whom he considered a woman.
There was a warrior named Shikhandi who had a connection to Bhishma’s past.
The Pandavas realized that Shikhandi could play an important role in defeating Bhishma.
A plan began to form.
11. The Tenth Day Approaches
The battle continued.
By the tenth day, Bhishma had become the greatest obstacle for the Pandavas.
The Pandavas needed to stop him.
Krishna and the Pandavas discussed the plan.
Arjuna would stand behind Shikhandi.
Bhishma would refuse to fight Shikhandi directly.
This would give Arjuna an opportunity to attack.
12. Bhishma Falls
On the tenth day, the plan was carried out.
Shikhandi stood before Bhishma.
Bhishma lowered his weapons.
Arjuna then released a powerful shower of arrows.
The arrows struck Bhishma.
The great warrior finally fell from his chariot.
But he did not touch the ground.
His body was supported by the countless arrows that had pierced him.
This became known as the Arrow Bed of Bhishma.
13. Bhishma Chooses His Time of Death
Bhishma possessed a special boon that allowed him to choose the time of his death.
Therefore, even after falling onto the arrow bed, he remained alive.
The Pandavas approached him with respect.
The Kauravas also came to see him.
Bhishma continued to give valuable advice.
He would remain alive until the appropriate time came for him to leave the world.
14. A New Commander Takes Charge
With Bhishma no longer able to fight, the Kauravas needed another commander.
Drona, the teacher of both the Pandavas and Kauravas, became the next commander of the Kaurava army.
The war was far from over.
In fact, the battles were about to become even more dangerous.
Drona had his own strategies.
And one of those strategies would lead to one of the most tragic events of the entire Mahabharata.
The story continues in Maha Bharatham Part 19 – Abhimanyu and the Chakravyuha.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first commander of the Kaurava army?
Bhishma was the first commander.
How many days did Bhishma command the Kaurava army?
Bhishma commanded the Kaurava army for the first ten days of the Kurukshetra War.
Why did Bhishma fall?
Arjuna attacked Bhishma while Shikhandi stood before him. Bhishma chose not to fight Shikhandi directly.
Did Bhishma die immediately?
No. Because of his boon, Bhishma remained alive on his bed of arrows and could choose the time of his death.
Who became commander after Bhishma?
Drona became the next commander of the Kaurava army.