The great Bhishma, the grandfather of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, conquered death by Brahmacharya.

Bhishma
Bhishma’s father was Santanu, who was the ruler of Hastinapura. His mother was Ganga Devi. His early name was Devavrata. He was an incarnation of Vasu Devata.

One day Santanu went into the forests, close to the banks of the Yamuna, for hunting. He came across a handsome maiden. He said to her, "Who are you? What are you doing here?" She replied, "I am the daughter of Dasaraja, the fisher-chief. My name is Satyavati. I am engaged at his command in rowing the boat for taking passengers across the river".

King Santanu wanted to marry her. He went to Dasaraja and asked his consent. The fisher-chief replied, "I am quite willing to give my daughter to you in marriage. But, first, I want you to give me a promise".

The king replied, "O Dasaraja, what is that? I will certainly do what lies in my power". The fisher-chief said, "The son born of my daughter should succeed you".

Santanu did not wish to give this pledge to the fisher-chief, because his valiant and intelligent son Devavrata, whom he loved intensely, would have to abandon the throne. He would no longer be the heir apparent. But the fire of love for the maiden burnt him. He was in a great dilemma. He grew pale and did not take any interest in the affairs of the state. He opened his heart to the chief minister whom he trusted, but the latter was not able to advise him in the matter. Santanu tried to conceal his love for the maiden from his son Devavrata.

Devavrata was wise and was very strong. He suspected something and thought that his father was unhappy. He said to his father, "O beloved father! You are prosperous. You have got everything. There should be no cause for your anxiety. Why are you cheerless now? You are losing your vigour and strength. Kindly let me know the reason for your grief. I am ever ready to do what lies in my power to remove it."

The king replied, "O beloved Devavrata! You are my only son. If any calamity falls on you, I will become sonless. I will be deprived of heaven. You are equal to a hundred sons. Therefore, I do not want to marry again. But one son is no son according to the words of the Rishis. These thoughts are troubling me in my mind".

Thereupon, Devavrata, accompanied by the old minister and many respectable Kshatriya chiefs, went to Dasaraja and pleaded on behalf of his father. He asked him to give his daughter to his father in marriage.

The fisher-chief replied, "O amiable prince! I have already told your father about the condition on which I can give, my daughter in marriage to him".

Devavrata said, "O fisher-chief! I make a solemn declaration now that the son that may be born of this girl shall succeed my father to the throne. I shall do all that you wish".

The fisher-chief said, "I highly appreciate your noble character and high ideal. But your sons may expel my daughter’s son at any time at their sweet will. I entertain a grave doubt on this point".

Devavrata prayed, "O Truth! Dwell in me for ever. Come and pervade my whole being! Give me inner strength to stick to the vow of perfect celibacy that I am going to take now in the presence of these people!". He then resolutely said to the fisher-chief, "O Dasaraja! Listen to what I say. From today, I shall lead a life of strict Naishthika Brahmacharya till the end of my life. All the women of the world are my mothers. I am the most devoted and loyal subject of the King of Hastinapura. If I die sonless, I shall yet attain the abode of eternal bliss and immortality".

From heaven at that time, the celestial damsels, the gods and the assemblage of sages showered flowers on him and said, "This is verily Bhishma, the Terrible!".

The

Answered by Ashish Yadav , an ibibo Wizard, at 6:46 PM on October 06, 2008

When his step mother worried that her son won't be able to ascend the throne then Bhisma, then known as Dev-vrat made a vow to renounce the throne.Thereupon Satyawati raised another doubt that the sons of Devvrat will claim ascendency since they were the siblings of the elder brother.There upon DevVrat declared his vow that he will never marry and remain a Brahmchari throughout life.That was a big Proclaimation.He registered a unique honour in History. With this vow He came to be known as BHISHM.

Answered by Vijay Kayal , an ibibo Master, at 6:47 PM on October 04, 2008

No one save Bhishma, on the surface of this earth, had made such a great ...... I promise you of, my perfect BrahmacharyaThrough the practice of Mula Bandha, the Apana Vayu is made to move ...... It has gone down in history as Bhishma Pratigna

Answered by Vipan Thapar , an ibibo Master, at 12:35 PM on October 04, 2008

Pitamaha Bhishma is adored for his promise. Santanu, his father , was eager to marry Satyavati. But he could not accept the terms that her father , Dasaraja , forwarded for consideration. Devabrata accepted the terms , that his father could not and materialised his father's marriage.
Devabrata promised that he will never marry. But the most significant promise was that he would never want to be made the king in his father,s place and he would show allegiance to the sons of Satyavati , who would be the king in future and protect them in every respect. Devabrata rose above all wants and even discarded his rights to be the next king and agreed to show allegiance to his step younger brothers and their generation --- '' the bhison pratigna'' for his father,s happiness -- got admiration , honour and respect and he came to be known as ''Bhisma'', due to his promise.
The greed less character and the respect and ''bhakti'' towards his father made ''Bhishma'' great.

Answered by Sujit Kumar , an ibibo Citizen, at 9:09 AM on October 04, 2008

His pratigjna is "He will never get married"

ramanamurty_m

Answered by Ramanamurty , an ibibo Advisor, at 8:58 PM on October 03, 2008

In the cultural history of India, the name of Bhishma evokes awe, wonder and admiration in the hearts of each and every individual who has heard about him and the great vow he took in order to fulfil the desire of his father. It has gone down in history as Bhishma Pratigna.

He became a lifelong Brahmachari, and was one of the most invincible of warriors in the whole narrative of the Mahabharata.

He kept his promise to Satyavati's father to remain a bachelor ever, and never to occupy the throne of Hastinapura himself, a promise made as a precondition for the father's consent toward the daughter's marriage to Santanu, his own father. At a subsequent time, when asked by his guru Parasurama to marry the eldest of the three daughters he had grabbed by force from Kashi for marriage to his younger half-brother Vichitravirya, he stuck to his promise, and a fierce battle ensued with the teacher to settle the issue.

Answered by SESHAN , an ibibo Master, at 2:53 PM on October 03, 2008

Bhishma’s father was Santanu, who was the ruler of Hastinapura. His mother was Ganga Devi. His early name was Devavrata. He was an incarnation of Vasu Devata.

One day Santanu went into the forests, close to the banks of the Yamuna, for hunting. He came across a handsome maiden. He said to her, "Who are you? What are you doing here?" She replied, "I am the daughter of Dasaraja, the fisher-chief. My name is Satyavati. I am engaged at his command in rowing the boat for taking passengers across the river".

King Santanu wanted to marry her. He went to Dasaraja and asked his consent. The fisher-chief replied, "I am quite willing to give my daughter to you in marriage. But, first, I want you to give me a promise".

The king replied, "O Dasaraja, what is that? I will certainly do what lies in my power". The fisher-chief said, "The son born of my daughter should succeed you".

Santanu did not wish to give this pledge to the fisher-chief, because his valiant and intelligent son Devavrata, whom he loved intensely, would have to abandon the throne. He would no longer be the heir apparent. But the fire of love for the maiden burnt him. He was in a great dilemma. He grew pale and did not take any interest in the affairs of the state. He opened his heart to the chief minister whom he trusted, but the latter was not able to advise him in the matter. Santanu tried to conceal his love for the maiden from his son Devavrata.

Devavrata was wise and was very strong. He suspected something and thought that his father was unhappy. He said to his father, "O beloved father! You are prosperous. You have got everything. There should be no cause for your anxiety. Why are you cheerless now? You are losing your vigour and strength. Kindly let me know the reason for your grief. I am ever ready to do what lies in my power to remove it."

The king replied, "O beloved Devavrata! You are my only son. If any calamity falls on you, I will become sonless. I will be deprived of heaven. You are equal to a hundred sons. Therefore, I do not want to marry again. But one son is no son according to the words of the Rishis. These thoughts are troubling me in my mind".

Thereupon, Devavrata, accompanied by the old minister and many respectable Kshatriya chiefs, went to Dasaraja and pleaded on behalf of his father. He asked him to give his daughter to his father in marriage.

The fisher-chief replied, "O amiable prince! I have already told your father about the condition on which I can give, my daughter in marriage to him".

Devavrata said, "O fisher-chief! I make a solemn declaration now that the son that may be born of this girl shall succeed my father to the throne. I shall do all that you wish".

The fisher-chief said, "I highly appreciate your noble character and high ideal. But your sons may expel my daughter’s son at any time at their sweet will. I entertain a grave doubt on this point".

Devavrata prayed, "O Truth! Dwell in me for ever. Come and pervade my whole being! Give me inner strength to stick to the vow of perfect celibacy that I am going to take now in the presence of these people!". He then resolutely said to the fisher-chief, "O Dasaraja! Listen to what I say. From today, I shall lead a life of strict Naishthika Brahmacharya till the end of my life. All the women of the world are my mothers. I am the most devoted and loyal subject of the King of Hastinapura. If I die sonless, I shall yet attain the abode of eternal bliss and immortality".

From heaven at that time, the celestial damsels, the gods and the assemblage of sages showered flowers on him and said, "This is verily Bhishma, the Terrible!".

The fisher-chief said, "O prince! I am quite ready now to give my daughter in marriage to your father". Thereupon, th

Answered by Rajani , an ibibo Citizen, at 11:42 AM on October 03, 2008

Bhisnma vows that he would never raise arms against a woman, or one who was born a woman, or one with a woman's name, or one with a woman's shape.
Earlier he vowed not to marry and to remain celibate for the sake of his father's happiness.. He remained as a "Ghotaka Brahmachari."

Answered by Arle Rambabu , an ibibo Master, at 10:43 AM on October 03, 2008