Devalok
From the epics · 2 tellings · North India

The bed of arrows (Bhishma waits for the sun to turn)

Bhishma falls at Kurukshetra, struck by Arjuna's arrows, and lies held off the ground by them. He has the gift of choosing when he dies, and he chooses to wait for the sun's northern course. Fifty-eight nights later, in the month of Magha, he takes Krishna's leave and dies. Makar Sankranti is remembered as the start of that course.

Who is in it

Places: Kurukshetra · Texts: Mahabharata

The story, beat by beat

  1. Arjuna, behind Shikhandi, covers Bhishma with arrows and he falls, held off the ground by them.
  2. Voices from the sky ask why he would die in the southern course; he resolves to wait.
  3. Ganga sends swans; Arjuna makes him a pillow of arrows and brings water up from the earth.
  4. After fifty-eight nights, in the bright half of Magha, he asks Krishna's leave and dies.
  5. His breath leaves through the crown of his head; Ganga weeps.

death vow time devotion

How it is told, place by place

Base telling · Primary text (translation)

Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva 119 to 121

North India All traditions 🪔 Makar Sankranti

On the tenth day Arjuna, with Shikhandi in front of him, covers Bhishma with arrows, and he falls from his chariot without touching the ground, held up by the shafts. Voices in the sky ask why he would leave in the southern course of the sun; he resolves to live until it turns north. Ganga sends swans from the Manasa lake to him. He asks for a pillow; Arjuna shoots three arrows under his head. He asks for water; Arjuna's arrow pierces the earth and a jet of cool water rises to his mouth.

The Mahabharata, tr. Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883-96), Book 6, Bhishma Parva, sections 119 to 121 § 6.119; The Mahabharata, tr. Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883-96), Book 6, Bhishma Parva, sections 119 to 121 § 6.120; The Mahabharata, tr. Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883-96), Book 6, Bhishma Parva, sections 119 to 121 § 6.121

Primary text (translation)

Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 167 and 168

North India All traditions 🪔 Makar Sankranti

After fifty nights in the city Yudhishthira sees the sun has turned north and goes to Bhishma with the family. Bhishma says he has lain fifty-eight nights on his arrows; the month is Magha and a quarter of the bright fortnight is gone. He speaks to Dhritarashtra, asks Krishna's leave to go, and holds his breath; it leaves through the crown of his head like a great meteor. Ganga rises from the river and weeps for her son.

What is different here:

The death itself, at the turn of the sun.

The Mahabharata, tr. Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Book 13, Anushasana Parva, sections 167 and 168 § 13.167; The Mahabharata, tr. Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Book 13, Anushasana Parva, sections 167 and 168 § 13.168

Sources: The Mahabharata, tr. Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883-96), Book 6, Bhishma Parva, sections 119 to 121; The Mahabharata, tr. Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Book 13, Anushasana Parva, sections 167 and 168

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