Ganga's Curse to Arjuna

In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, killed Bhishma, a revered warrior and grandfather to the Pandavas and Kauravas, during the great Kurukshetra war. Killing a respected elder was considered a grave sin, leading to Arjuna being cursed by Mother Ganga and the seven Vasus.

According to the Mahabharata, Bhishma had been granted a boon to choose the time of his death. However, during the war, he was fighting so fiercely and seemed invincible that it was becoming impossible for the Pandavas to defeat him. To break his resolve and bring about his death, Arjuna shot an arrow at Bhishma's chariot, which caused Bhishma to fall to the ground.

Upon witnessing this act, Mother Ganga, who is believed to be the mother of Bhishma, was furious and cursed Arjuna that he would be unable to use his divine weapons when he needed them the most. The seven Vasus, brothers to Ganga and Bhishma, were also angered by this act, and they cursed Arjuna to be born as a eunuch in his next life.

However, upon realizing the magnitude of his sin, Arjuna was deeply remorseful and sought forgiveness from Bhishma. Bhishma, being a noble warrior, forgave Arjuna and lifted the curse of the Vasus. However, the curse of Mother Ganga remained, and it came to pass when Arjuna needed to use his divine weapons against a powerful opponent named Babruvahana but was unable to do so, as his weapons failed him.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting elders and the consequences of committing a sin, even in war.

Ganga's relationship with Bhisma.

In Hindu mythology, Ganga is the goddess of the river Ganges, considered sacred. She is believed to be the daughter of the sage Jahnu, who had swallowed her when she was brought to him by the gods. However, Jahnu released her upon his request, and she flowed out of his ear. Ganga is considered a powerful goddess who purifies and washes away sins.

The seven Vasus are deities who represent the aspects of nature, such as wind, water, fire, and Earth and are considered to be the sons of the sage Kashyapa and his wife, Aditi. They are believed to have been cursed by the sage Vasishtha for stealing his cow and were later incarnated as humans on Earth.

Bhishma, also known as Devavrata, was the eighth son of King Shantanu and Ganga. When Shantanu fell in love with Ganga, she agreed to marry him so he would never question her actions. However, when Ganga began drowning their children, Shantanu could no longer remain silent, and Ganga revealed that she was taking the children to the heavens to become gods. Being the eighth child, Bhishma was allowed to live on Earth as he had a boon from his father that he would only die when he desired to.

Thus, Bhishma was the son of Ganga and was also related to the Vasus as they were his brothers. When Arjuna killed Bhishma during the great Kurukshetra war, it enraged Ganga and the Vasus, who cursed Arjuna for his act of killing a respected elder.

Arjuna killed Bhisma in Kurukshetra

In the Mahabharata, Bhishma, also known as Devavrata, was a revered warrior and the grandfather of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. He had vowed to remain unmarried and devote his life to the service of his kingdom.

During the great Kurukshetra war, Bhishma fought on the side of the Kauravas, as he had promised to serve the throne of Hastinapura, regardless of who was in power. Bhisma was considered invincible due to his prowess in battle, and the Pandavas found it challenging to defeat him.

To break his resolve, Arjuna shot a volley of arrows at Bhishma, which caused him to fall to the ground. Seeing this, the Pandavas rushed to Bhishma's side and paid their respects to him. Bhisma, lying on a bed of arrows, asked Arjuna to prop his head up so that he could see Lord Krishna, whom he regarded as the Supreme Being.

Bhishma then imparted several valuable lessons to Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, before finally choosing the time of his death. He passed away peacefully, with Lord Krishna by his side.

Read more: Why did Hanuman protect Arjuna’s Chariot? 

Ganga's Curse to Arjuna

In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, killed Bhishma, a revered warrior and grandfather to the Pandavas and Kauravas, during the great Kurukshetra war. Killing a respected elder was considered a grave sin, leading to Arjuna being cursed by Mother Ganga and the seven Vasus.

According to the Mahabharata, Bhishma had been granted a boon to choose the time of his death. However, during the war, he was fighting so fiercely and seemed invincible that it was becoming impossible for the Pandavas to defeat him. To break his resolve and bring about his death, Arjuna shot an arrow at Bhishma's chariot, which caused Bhishma to fall to the ground.

Upon witnessing this act, Mother Ganga, his mother, was grief-stricken and enraged at Arjuna for killing her son. Along with the seven Vasus, who were Bhisma's brothers, Ganga cursed Arjuna for his act of killing a respected elder.

The curse of Ganga and the Vasus was that Arjuna would be killed by his son, Babruvahana, who was born to him through Chitrangada, a princess of Manipur. This curse resulted from Arjuna's actions, as killing Bhisma, a revered and respected elder, was considered a grave sin in Hindu mythology.

Lord Krishna intervened and lifted the curse before it could be fulfilled. Babruvahana, unaware of his true identity, ended up fighting Arjuna in a battle. The curse of Mother Ganga remained, and it came to pass when Arjuna needed to use his divine weapons against a powerful opponent named Babruvahana but could not do so, as his weapons failed him and fatally wounded him. However, with the help of Lord Krishna and the celestial physician Dhanvantari, Arjuna was revived, and the curse was ultimately lifted.

Read More: The Story of Babruvahana

Conclusion

The story of how Mother Ganga and the seven Vasus cursed Arjuna for killing Bhishma teaches us several important moral lessons.

Firstly, it highlights the importance of respecting one's elders, regardless of the circumstances. Bhishma was an esteemed member of society, and his death caused great pain and suffering to both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Arjuna's actions were seen as disrespectful, and he was punished accordingly.

Secondly, the story emphasizes the consequences of one's actions. Arjuna's killing of Bhishma had severe repercussions, and he was cursed for it. Remember that our actions have consequences, and we must always strive to act responsibly and ethically.

Finally, the story highlights the importance of seeking forgiveness and penance for one's sins. Arjuna was remorseful and spent the rest of his life trying to atone for his actions. This teaches us that we must take responsibility for our mistakes and work towards rectifying them.

Overall, the story of how Mother Ganga and the seven Vasus cursed Arjuna is a powerful reminder of the importance of respect, responsibility, and forgiveness in our lives.

Read More: The Story of Babruvahana

FAQ

Q: Who was Mother Ganga?

A: Mother Ganga, also known as the River Ganges, is a sacred river in Hinduism that is worshipped as a goddess. She is believed to have descended from the heavens to purify the sins of humankind.

Q: How did Bhishma die?

A: Bhishma had taken a vow to not marry and to serve as an advisor to his family, the Kuru dynasty. During the great Kurukshetra war, Bhishma fought on the side of the Kauravas but was eventually defeated by Arjuna. He chose to lie on a bed of arrows and waited for the auspicious time to leave his mortal body.

Q: What is the significance of the story of how Mother Ganga and the seven Vasus cursed Arjuna?

A: The story highlights important moral lessons about respect, responsibility, and forgiveness. It emphasizes the consequences of one's actions and the importance of seeking forgiveness and penance for one's sins. The story also showcases the belief in karma and the idea that one's actions have consequences that must be faced.

Q: Is the story of how Mother Ganga and the seven Vasus cursed Arjuna a well-known story in Hindu mythology?

A: The story is a well-known episode from the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. It has been retold in various forms of art and literature throughout history and is still widely studied and revered in Hindu culture.

Q: Who was Bhishma?

A: Bhishma was a revered warrior and one of the central characters of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. He was known for his battle prowess and unwavering loyalty to his family.

Q: Why did Arjuna kill Bhishma?

A: Arjuna was fighting on the side of the Pandavas in the great Kurukshetra war, while Bhishma was fighting on the side of the Kauravas.

Q: Who were the seven Vasus?

A: The seven Vasus were deities in Hindu mythology who were associated with the elements of nature, such as water, wind, and fire. They were said to have been cursed by the sage Vashishta and were forced to be born on Earth as mortals.

Q: What was the curse given by Mother Ganga and the seven Vasus to Arjuna?

A: Mother Ganga and the seven Vasus cursed Arjuna for killing Bhishma, saying that his enemies would defeat him in his most crucial battle and would die an ignoble death, not receiving a proper funeral.

Q: Did Arjuna seek forgiveness for his actions?

A: Arjuna was remorseful for killing Bhishma and sought forgiveness from him. However, after Bhishma's death, Mother Ganga and the seven Vasus cursed Arjuna, and he spent the rest of his life doing penance to atone for his sins.