Mahabharat : Bhisham Pitahma

The war of Mahabharat between the Kaurvas and the Pandavas lasted for about 18 days. Bhisham Pitahma who considered himself as the protector of the throne of Hastinapur, fought on behalf of the Kaurvas. He alone fought for eleven days bravely. While the other princes and rulers could fight for a day or two only. The reason why Bhisham Pitahma was able to fight for eleven days was because he remained celibate all his life.

When the King Shantno’s wife died, the king was intensely distressed over the loss. After sometime he decided to remarry but the father of the girl he fell in love with, was reluctant to give him his daughter for fear that the throne would go to Bhisham Pitahma, the eldest son of the family. When Bhisham Pitahma learned about his father’s intense desire to marry the girl, he took a vow that he would have nothing to do with the throne and the kingdom and that he would never marry. Only after receiving this promise, the marriage of Shantano was materialized.

Had not Bhisham Pitamah taken the vow, perhaps the story of Mahabharat would have been different. There would not have been such a disastrous war between cousin brothers for the sake of land. Being the senior most member of the family, he tried his best that the war could be averted, but his efforts failed and being protector of the throne he had to be on the side of Duryodhana much against his wishes. He was ashamed of the act of Kaurvas when they tried to molest Draupadi in the court before every one. But he was helpless.