Long ago, in a past life, Bhishma was a Gandharva who stole Kamdhenu, a divine cow. This act brought a severe curse upon him and his seven brothers. They were destined to be born on Earth, only to die immediately after birth. However, the Gandharva who physically stole the cow was cursed to live a long, burdened life on Earth.
Bhishma was unaware of this curse, but his mother, Ganga, knew. She had married King Shantanu on the condition that he would not question her actions. As she bore each child, she would immediately drown them, sparing them from the cursed life. When Bhishma, the eighth child, was born, Shantanu couldn’t bear it any longer and stopped her. Ganga revealed the curse and left, but spared Bhishma to live out the curse’s full extent.
Shantanu was troubled about the future of Hastinapura, worrying about who would protect the throne. Bhishma, in a remarkable act of devotion, vowed to remain loyal to whoever sat on the throne. This promise was meant to ease his father’s worries. Pleased by Bhishma’s dedication, Shantanu granted him the boon of dying at will.
This boon, strange as it was, became Bhishma’s escape. He could end his life whenever he wished, yet he chose not to. Bhishma’s life was filled with duties. He remained unmarried, found brides for his brothers and nephews, and raised the children of the Kuru dynasty.
King Puru, another figure in history, exchanged his youth with his father and received the kingdom. Bhishma, in contrast, received the power to choose his death, strange. Don’t you think? Giving someone such a boon as blessing. Shantanu’s boon was an escape.
Throughout his life, Bhishma had several occasions where he could have chosen to die. He witnessed immense suffering and injustice but never used his boon. This raises the question: was he attached to the power he wielded, even though he was not a king?