Bhishma's death scene in the Mahabharata depicts him lying on a bed of arrows after being defeated by Arjuna, who used Shikhandi as a shield. Though severely wounded, Bhishma chose to wait for the auspicious time of Uttarayana (when the sun moves north) to leave his body. He lay on the arrows, enduring the pain, until the sun shifted north, and then, with Krishna's blessing, he peacefully surrendered his life. This oleograph produced around 1920 from Ravi Varma Press Karla Lonvala.
Here's a more detailed account:
The Battle:
Bhishma, a great warrior and grandfather to both the Kauravas and Pandavas, was defeated by Arjuna on the tenth day of the Kurukshetra war.
The Bed of Arrows:
Arjuna, guided by Shikhandi, showered Bhishma with arrows, causing him to fall to the ground, but the arrows pierced his body and held him suspended above the earth.
Waiting for Uttarayana:
Bhishma, having the power to choose the time of his death, decided to wait for Uttarayana, considered an auspicious time for liberation.
Seeking Krishna's Grace:
Bhishma, in pain, sought Krishna's darshan (vision) and requested him to relieve him of his suffering before his final moments.
Krishna's Blessing:
Krishna, moved by Bhishma's devotion, granted him a vision of his Vishwarupa (cosmic form) and also relieved him of his physical pain, enabling him to speak to Yudhishthira.
Final Moments:
Bhishma, after imparting wisdom to Yudhishthira, fixed his mind on Krishna and peacefully surrendered his life, merging with the divine
