Fight for?

 

Bhisma bowed before Parasuram & quickly remounting his chariot, blew his mighty conch shell. Soon, fighting began in earnest as Parasuram rained 960 arrows upon Bhisma. The son of Ganga-devi said: O Preceptor, while fighting with you I’ll not aim my arrows at the Vedas, which you embody, nor your Brahminical status. Nor shall I attack the merit you have earned by executing severe austerities. I will simply aim at the kshatriya nature you have adopted to fight with me. Now, watch as I cut off your bow

 

While saying this, Bhisma picked up an arrow that, which severed one of the ornamental horns at the end of Parasuram's bow.  Indeed, that arrow made the bow drop from the warrior incarnation's hands. Bhisma then discharged 100 arrows that wounded Parasurama all over covering him with blood. Parasuram picked up another bow & as he continued to shower arrows, Bhisma also became severely wounded so that he began to tremble due to pain. Still, he retaliated with his arrows so fiercely that it soon looked as if Parasuram was about to fall unconscious

 

Feeling pity for his former preceptor, Bhisma stopped fighting & began condemning kshatriya dharma that sometimes causes one to give pain to his guru & a brahmana. The sun was setting & so the battle was suspended. After retiring to his camp, Bhisma had his charioteer extract arrows from their bodies, as well as from horses

 

Fighting resumed early next morning as Bhisma & Parasuram prepared to rush at one another on chariots, eager for battle. Bhisma once again got down from his chariot so that he could offer respects to his former guru. The 2nd day's fighting began with arrows, but before long Parasuram began to employ his celestial weapons. Bhisma too replied with his celestial weapons. When Parasuram saw that his attacks were being successfully counteracted, he became highly enraged

 

He suddenly came close to Bhisma's right side & pierced him in chest so violently with an arrow that Bhisma fell unconscious onto floor of his chariot. As Bhisma was taken away from battlefield by his charioteer, Parasuram's disciples became ecstatic seeing this

 

Bhisma soon regained consciousness, he quickly came back and aggressively showered his arrows, but Parasuram easily neutralized them. Desiring to kill Parasuram, Bhisma took out an especially powerful arrow & released it. When this arrow struck him, Parasuram fell down unconscious, causing exclamations of despair to be heard in all directions

 

Amba & the sages went & treated Parasuram, massaging his body and giving him water, so that he soon recovered. Rising, Parasuram hurriedly remounted his chariot. After challenging Bhisma, he released a fierce arrow that pierced Kuru warrior's left side, making him tremble violently. Parasuram showered more arrows, but Bhisma did not waver as he countered them with his own.  Thus, the entire sky soon became filled with arrows, obstructing both the sun and wind. As the arrows collided, they burnt because of friction and thus fell to the ground as ashes

 

Fighting should always be on principles and not with people. Here Bhisma exemplifies this higher principle by respecting Lord Parasuram but protecting his vow by fighting with him. We should not be consumed by hatred against a person and as soon as the contradictions are resolved, we should treat others fairly without being prejudice

 

Fight results don’t count but principles do

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife


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